Methods, apparatus, and systems for improving printing precision

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments disclose a method for operating a printer apparatus that includes a print head. The method includes causing a media hub to retract a media in a retract direction along a media path. Further, the method includes causing a first media sensor to generate a first signal during retraction of the media. Furthermore, the method includes monitoring the first signal to detect at least one of a leading edge or a trailing edge of a label of the plurality of labels. Upon detecting the at least one of the leading edge or the trailing edge of the label, causing the media hub to retract the media by at least a predetermined distance, wherein the predetermined distance is a distance between the print head and the first media sensor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/672,624, filed Nov. 4, 2019, which claims the benefit of ChinesePatent Application No. 201811312739.0 filed Nov. 6, 2018, the disclosureof each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Applicant has identified a number of deficiencies and problemsassociated with conventional printer apparatus. Through applied effort,ingenuity, and innovation, many of these identified problems have beensolved by developing solutions that are included in embodiments of thepresent disclosure, many examples of which are described in detailherein.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to aprinter apparatus and, more particularly, to methods, and systems foroperating the printer apparatus.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure illustrate a printerapparatus. The printer apparatus includes a printer housing having atleast a printer media output. Further, the printer apparatus includes amedia hub configured to receive a media roll and supply a media from themedia roll along a media path in a print direction to the printer mediaoutput. The media includes a plurality of labels. Furthermore, theprinter apparatus includes a print head disposed adjacent to the mediapath and is downstream of the media hub in the print direction. Theprint head is configured to print content on the plurality of labels. Afirst media sensor disposed downstream of the print head in the printdirection at a predetermined distance from the print head, wherein thefirst media sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicativeof a position of the plurality of labels on the media path.Additionally, the printer apparatus includes a processor communicativelycoupled to the media hub, the first media sensor and the print head. Theprocessor is configured to cause the media hub to retract the media in aretract direction along the media path. The retract direction isopposite to the print direction. Further, the processor is configured tomonitor the first signal received from the first media sensor, duringthe retraction of the media along the media path, to detect at least oneof a leading edge or a trailing edge of a label of the plurality oflabels. Furthermore, the processor is configured to upon detecting theat least one of the leading edge or the trailing edge of the label,cause the media to retract by at least the predetermined distance.

In some examples, the printer apparatus further comprising a secondmedia sensor disposed upstream of the print head along the media pathwith respect to the print direction. The second media sensor isconfigured to generate a second signal indicative of the position of theplurality of labels on the media path.

In some examples, the printer apparatus further includes an imageverifier housing disposed in the printer housing, wherein an imagecapturing device and the first media sensor are disposed in the imageverifier housing. The image capturing device is configured to capture animage of the printed content.

In some examples, the processor is communicatively coupled to the imagecapturing device, wherein the processor is further configured to verifythe printed content based on the captured image.

In some examples, in an instance in which the verification of theprinted content fails, the processor is configured to cause the media toretract along the media path.

In some examples, wherein the first media sensor is positioned in theimage verifier housing such that the first media sensor is positionedupstream of the image capturing device along the media path with respectto the print direction, wherein a first distance between the print headand the first media sensor along the media path is shorter than a seconddistance between a second media sensor and the print head along themedia path.

In some examples, the printer apparatus further includes a tear barpositioned proximal to the printer media output and is positioneddownstream of the first media sensor. The tear bar is configured tofacilitate tearing of the plurality of labels outputted from the printermedia output.

In some examples, the processor is configured to cause the media toretract along the media path in response to elapsing of a predefinedtime period.

In some examples, the processor is further configured to determine alabel length of the plurality of labels, and determine whether the mediahub has received a new media roll based on one or more parametersassociated with a new media roll, wherein the new media roll includesnew media that further includes a plurality of new labels. Based ondetermining that the media hub receives the new media roll, cause a newmedia in the new media roll to retract along the media path in theretract direction until a trailing edge of a new label is detected basedon the first signal. Further, based on detection of the trailing edge ofthe new label, cause the new media to retract along the media path inthe retract direction until a first distance traversed by the new mediais equal to the label length prior to a leading edge of a new label isdetected based on the first signal. Upon determining that the firstdistance traversed by the new media is equal to the label length,retract the new media until the leading edge of the new label isdetected by the processor based on the first signal. Further, theprocessor is configured to determine a second distance that the newmedia traversed after the new media has traversed by the label lengthand before the leading edge of the new label is detected by theprocessor based on the first signal. Furthermore, the processor isconfigured to modify the label length by the second distance.

In some examples, the processor is further configured to determine alabel length of the plurality of labels, and determine whether the mediahub has received a new media roll based on one or more parametersassociated with a new media roll, wherein the new media roll includesnew media that further includes a plurality of new labels. Based ondetermining that the media hub receives the new media roll, cause a newmedia in the new media roll to retract along the media path in theretract direction until a trailing edge of a new label is detected basedon the first signal. Further, based on detection of the trailing edge ofthe new label, cause the new media to retract along the media path inthe retract direction until a leading edge of a new label is detectedbased on the first signal prior to a distance traversed by the new mediais equal to the label length. Upon detecting the leading edge of the newlabel, determining a first distance that the new media traversed afterthe detection of the trailing edge and before the detection of theleading edge based on the first signal. Further, the processor isconfigured to modify the label length as the first distance.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method foroperating a printer apparatus that includes a print head. The methodincludes causing a media hub to retract a media in a retract directionalong a media path. Further, the method includes causing a first mediasensor to generate a first signal during retraction of the media.Furthermore, the method includes monitoring the first signal to detectat least one of a leading edge or a trailing edge of a label of theplurality of labels. Upon detecting the at least one of the leading edgeor the trailing edge of the label, causing the media hub to retract themedia by at least a predetermined distance, wherein the predetermineddistance is a distance between the print head and the first mediasensor.

The above summary is provided merely for purposes of providing anoverview of one or more exemplary embodiments described herein toprovide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure.Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described embodimentsare merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope orspirit of the disclosure in any way. It will be appreciated that thescope of the disclosure encompasses many potential embodiments inaddition to those here summarized, some of which are further explainedwithin the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description of the illustrative embodiments may be read inconjunction with the accompanying figures. It will be appreciated thatfor simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to otherelements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the present disclosureare shown and described with respect to the figures presented herein, inwhich:

FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate perspective views of a printing apparatus,according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate example schematics of the printer apparatus,according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of an example direct thermalprinter, according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic of an example direct thermal printer,according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate the image verifier housing, according to one ormore embodiments described herein;

FIG. 5. illustrates a block diagram of a control system, according toone or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart for operating the printer apparatus,according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method for operating the printerapparatus in a calibration mode, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 8 illustrates a graphical representation of an example secondsignal, according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of a method for determining a length of aplurality of labels, according to the one or more embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart for operating the printer apparatus in aprint mode, according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 11 illustrates various schematics of an example method of operatingthe printer apparatus in the print mode, according to one or moreembodiments described herein; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart for operating the printer apparatus in anew media mode, according to one or more embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsome, but not all embodiments of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, thesedisclosures may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.Terminology used in this patent is not meant to be limiting insofar asdevices described herein, or portions thereof, may be attached orutilized in other orientations

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “according to one embodiment,” and thelike generally mean that the particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic following the phrase may be included in at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure, and may be included in more thanone embodiment of the present disclosure (importantly, such phrases donot necessarily refer to the same embodiment).

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations.

If the specification states a component or feature “may,” “can,”“could,” “should,” “would,” “preferably,” “possibly,” “typically,”“optionally,” “for example,” “often,” or “might” (or other suchlanguage) be included or have a characteristic, that a specificcomponent or feature is not required to be included or to have thecharacteristic. Such component or feature may be optionally included insome embodiments, or it may be excluded.

In various example embodiments, the term “media” is used herein to meana printable medium, such as a page or a paper, on which content, such asgraphics, text, and/or visual images, may be printed. The media maycorrespond to a continuous media that may be loaded in a printingapparatus in form of a roll or a stack. In some embodiments, the scopeof the disclosure is not limited to having a continuous media. In someembodiments, the media may be divided into a plurality of labels throughperforations defined along a width of the media. In some alternativeembodiments, the media may be divided into the plurality of labels byone or more marks at a defined distance from each other along the lengthof the media. In an example embodiment, a contiguous stretch of themedia between two consecutive marks or two consecutive perforationscorresponds to a label of a plurality of labels. In some examples, eachof the plurality of labels includes a printable portion on which contentmay be printed using a printer apparatus. In some implementations, theprintable portion on the label may correspond to the complete label. Insuch an implementation, the content is printable on the complete label.In another implementation, an area of the printable portion is less thanthe area of the label. In some embodiments, the media may correspond toa thermal media on which the content is printed on application of heaton the media itself. In alternative embodiments, the media maycorrespond to a liner media, a liner-less media, and/or the like.

Printing systems, such as copiers, printers, facsimile devices or othersystems, may be capable of reproducing content, visual images, graphics,texts, etc. on a page or a media. Some examples of the printing systemsmay include, but not limited to, thermal printers, inkjet printers,laser printers, and/or the like.

A typical thermal printer includes a thermal print head that has one ormore heating elements. These heating elements may be individually orcollectively energized to perform the printing operation. Examples ofthe thermal printers may include thermal transfer printers and directthermal printers. Typically, in thermal transfer printer, content isprinted on the media by heating a coating of a ribbon so that thecoating is transferred to the media. It contrasts with the directthermal printing where no ribbon is present in the process. After thecontent is printed, the media is advanced along a media path to outputthe printed media from a printer media output defined in a housing ofthe printer. The outputted media may be torn automatically or manuallyusing a tear bar. Post tearing of the printed media, the media isretracted along the media path to align the media (where the content isto be printed) below the print head. Due to various mechanicalconstraints (such as, but not limited to, gear back lash, feed error,ramp up and ramp down error of the electrical drives) during retractionof the media, the media may not get aligned with the print head, whichmay lead to improper printing of the content on the media.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the printer apparatusincludes a media hub that is configured to receive a media roll. Themedia roll corresponds to a roll of media that includes a plurality oflabels. Each of the plurality of labels has a leading edge and atrailing edge. In some examples, the leading edge and the trailing edgeof a label of the plurality of labels separate the label from theadjacent labels in the media. In some examples, the media hub causes themedia to traverse along a media path. The printer apparatus furtherincludes a print head that is positioned adjacent to the media path. Inan example embodiment, the print head may be configured to print contenton the media. For example, the print head may be configured to printcontent on a first label of the plurality of labels. Post printing ofthe content on the first label, the media hub causes the media toadvance along the media path to output the printed first label from theprinter media output. Hereinafter, a direction of advancing of the mediaalong the media path (for example, for printing and outputting theprinted first label) is referred to as a print direction.

In some embodiments, the printer apparatus further includes a firstmedia sensor and a second media sensor. In some embodiments, each of thefirst media sensor and the second media sensor may correspond to a labelstop sensor (LSS sensor). In some embodiments, the first media sensorand the second media sensor are configured to detect a position of theplurality of the labels on the media path. In some embodiments, thefirst media sensor and the second media sensor are configured togenerate a first signal and a second signal, respectively. The firstsignal and the second signal are indicative of a position of theplurality of labels on the media path.

In some embodiments, the first media sensor is positioned downstream ofthe print head with respect to the print direction, and the second mediasensor is positioned upstream of the print head with respect to theprint direction. In some embodiments, the first media sensor ispositioned between the print head and the printer media output while thesecond media sensor is positioned between the print head and the mediahub.

In an example embodiment, the printer apparatus includes a processorthat is communicatively coupled to the first media sensor, the printhead, and the second media sensor. In some implementations, theprocessor is configured to control various operations of the printerapparatus. For example, the processor may be configured to cause theprint head to print content on the first label. After the content isprinted on the first label, the processor causes the media hub tofacilitate traversal of the media in the print direction along the mediapath in order to output the printed first label from the printer mediaoutput. When the first label is outputted, a portion of a second labeladjacent to the first label also traverses past the print head. Afterthe first label is torn, the processor causes the media to retract untilthe processor detects the leading edge of the second label based on thefirst signal generated by the first media sensor. After the detection ofthe leading edge of the second label, the processor continues causingthe media to retract along the media path for a predetermined distance.In some examples, the predetermined distance corresponds to a physicaldistance between the first media sensor and the print head. Therefore,after the retraction of the media by the predetermined distance, thesecond label aligns with the print head. As a result, variousembodiments of the present invention eliminate the possibility ofmisalignment between the second label and the print head, and providetechnical improvements over convention printer apparatus.

In another implementation, when a new media roll (that includes newmedia having a plurality of new labels) is loaded by a user to theprinter apparatus, the processor causes the new media to retract untilthe processor detects the trailing edge of a new label of the pluralityof new labels (based on the first signal generated by the first mediasensor). After the detection of the trailing edge, the processor maycause the new media to retract until a distance traversed by the newmedia is equal to a label length, or until the leading edge of the newlabel is detected (based on the first signal generated by the firstmedia sensor). In some examples, the label length may correspond to alength of a label of the plurality of labels in the media that wasloaded in the printer apparatus prior to the new media.

In an instance in which the distance traversed by the new media is equalto the label length and the processor has not detected the leading edgeof the new label, the processor may be configured to continue causingthe retraction of the new media until the processor detects the leadingedge of the new label. Thereafter, the processor may be configured todetermine an additional distance that the new media traversed after thenew media has been retracted by the distance equal to the label length.The processor may be configured to determine a new label length as a sumof the label length and the additional distance.

In an instance in which the processor detects the leading edge of thenew label prior to the new media traversing the label length distance,the processor may be configured to determine a distance traversed by thenew media subsequent to the detection of the trailing edge of the newlabel. Thereafter, the processor may be configured to determine the newlabel length as the determined distance. Because the new label length isbeing determined (on loading the new media roll) during retraction ofthe new media based on the detection of the leading edge and thetrailing edge of the new label in the new media, the need forcalibrating the printer apparatus for the new media roll is avoided.

FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate perspective views of a printer apparatus 100,according to one or more embodiments described herein. The printerapparatus 100 may include a media hub 102, a printer media output 104, aribbon drive assembly 106, a ribbon take-up hub 108, a print head 110,an image verifier housing 112, and a printer cover sensor 113.

In an example embodiment, the media hub 102 is configured to receive amedia roll 114. In an example embodiment, the media roll 114 maycorrespond to a roll of a media 116 that may be a continuous media ormay, in some example embodiments, include a plurality of labels 117 thatare defined (in or on the media 116) by means of one or moreperforations or one or more marks. In an example embodiment, theplurality of labels 117 in or on the media 116 may correspond toportions on which the printer apparatus 100 may be configured to printcontent. In some examples, the one or more perforations and/or the oneor more marks may define an edge (e.g., edge 119 a) between two adjacentlabels. Further, each label of the plurality of labels 117 has two edges(e.g., the label 117 a has edges 119 a and 119 b). Similarly, the label117 b has the edges 119 b and 119 c. The edge 119 b is common edge forboth the labels 117 a and 117 b.

In an example embodiment, the media hub 102 is coupled to a firstelectrical drive (not shown) that actuates the media hub 102. Onactuation, the media hub 102 causes the media roll 114 to rotate, whichfurther causes the media roll 114 to supply the media 116 to the printhead 110 along a media path 118 (shaded in FIG. 1C). In an exampleembodiment, along the media path 118, the media 116 traverses from themedia roll 114 to the print head 110, the image verifier housing 112,and the printer media output 104. In such an embodiment, the directionof the media traversal is referred to as the print direction. In someexamples, the media hub 102 may be actuated in such a manner that themedia 116 traverses in a direction opposite to the print direction.Hereinafter, the direction of the media traversal opposite to the printdirection is referred to as the retract direction.

As described, the media 116 includes the plurality of labels 117, andeach label of the plurality of labels 117 includes two edges (e.g., 119a and 119 b). In an example embodiment, an edge (of the two edges) of alabel (e.g., 117 a) positioned towards the print direction is referredto as a leading edge of the label (e.g., 119 a). The other edge of thetwo edges of the label 117 a is referred to as trailing edge of thelabel (e.g., 119 b). Further, the trailing edge (e.g., 119 b) ispositioned upstream of the leading edge (e.g., 119 a) with respect tothe print direction. Similarly, for the label 117 b the edge 119 bcorresponds to the leading edge, while the edge 119 c corresponds to thetrailing edge of the label 117 b.

In an example embodiment, the media hub 102 may further include a mediaroll sensor 103 that may include suitable logic and/or circuitry todetermine one or more parameters associated with the media roll 114. Inan example embodiment, the one or more parameters associated with themedia roll 114 may include a weight of the media roll 114, a diameter ofthe media roll 114, and rotation per minute (rpm) of the media hub 102(when the media roll 114 supplies the media 116 on the media path 118).In an example embodiment, the one or more parameters associated with themedia roll 114 are deterministic of an amount of the media 116 presentin the media roll 114. For example, as the amount of the media 116 inthe media roll 114 reduces, the weight of the media roll 114 alsoreduces. Similarly, the diameter of the media roll 114 reduces as theamount of the media 116 in the media roll 114 reduces. Further, as thediameter of the media roll 114 reduces, the rpm by which the media hub102 is to be rotated to maintain the supply of the media 116 on themedia path 118 increases. Therefore, based on one or more measurementsof the one or more parameters, the amount of media 116 present in themedia roll 114 may be determined. Some examples of the media roll sensor103 may include a pressure sensor, a weight sensor, a length sensor, anencoder wheel (configured to determine the rpm of the media hub 102),and an array of InfraRed (IR) sensors.

In some example embodiments, the scope of the disclosure is not limitedto the media hub 102 facilitating supply of the media 116 along themedia path 118. In alternative embodiment, the printer apparatus 100 mayfurther include a platen roller (an example platen roller is furtherdescribed in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B), in addition to the media hub 102,that may be positioned along the media path 118. In such an embodiment,the platen roller may be coupled to the first electrical drive, whichactuates the platen roller. On actuation, the platen roller may beconfigured to pull the media 116 from the media roll 114 (mounted on themedia hub 102), causing the media 116 to traverse along the media path118. In some embodiments, the first electrical drive may be coupled toboth the platen roller and the media hub 102 such that both the platenroller and the media hub 102 operate in synchronization. Suchconfiguration of the printer apparatus 100 (that includes the platenroller and the media hub 102) is further described in conjunction withFIG. 2A and FIG. 2B.

In an example embodiment, the printer media output 104 corresponds to aslot in a housing of the printer apparatus 100 through which the printedmedia (for example printed label) is outputted. The width of the printermedia output 104 is in accordance with a width of the media 116. In someexamples, the width of the printer media output 104 may correspond to amaximum width of the media 116 supported by the printer apparatus 100.At the printer media output 104, a media output sensor 121 ispositioned. In an example embodiment, the media output sensor 121 maycorrespond to an IR sensor that may be configured to generate a mediapresence signal when the printed media 116 is outputted from the printermedia output 104. When the printed media 116 is torn from the printermedia output 104, the media output sensor 121 may halt the generation ofthe media presence signal.

The ribbon drive assembly 106 may receive a ribbon roll 120 thatcorresponds to a roll of a ribbon 122. In an example embodiment, theribbon 122 may correspond to an ink media that is utilized to disposeink onto the media 116 to print content on the media 116. In an exampleembodiment, the ribbon drive assembly 106 may be coupled to a secondelectrical drive that may be configured to actuate the ribbon driveassembly 106. On actuation of the ribbon drive assembly 106, the ribbondrive assembly 106 rotates, which causes the ribbon roll 120 to rotateand supply the ribbon 122 along a ribbon path 124 (shaded in FIG. 1B).Along the ribbon path 124, the ribbon 122 traverses from the ribbon roll120 to the print head 110 and further to the ribbon take-up hub 108.

In an example embodiment, the ribbon take-up hub 108 may correspond toan assembly that may receive ribbon (i.e., a section of the ribbon 122from which the ink has been is disposed on the media 116). The ribbontake-up hub 108 may also be coupled to a third electrical drive that maybe configured to actuate the ribbon take-up hub 108. On actuation, theribbon take-up hub 108 pulls the ribbon 122 from the ribbon roll 120. Insome examples, the second electrical drive and the third electricaldrive may operate in synchronization such that an amount of ribbon 122released by the ribbon roll 120 (due to actuation of the secondelectrical drive) is equal to the amount of ribbon 122 received by theribbon take-up hub 108.

The print head 110 may correspond to a component that is configured toprint the content on the media 116. In an example embodiment, the printhead 110 may include a plurality of heating elements (not shown) thatare energized and pressed against the ribbon 122 to perform a printoperation. In operation, the print head 110 applies heat on the sectionof the ribbon 122 and, concurrently, presses the ribbon 122 against themedia 116 to transfer the ink on the media 116. To press the ribbon 122against the media 116, the print head 110 travels in a verticallydownward direction (or downward direction) to push the ribbon 122against the media 116. In embodiments where the media 116 corresponds tothermal paper, the print head 110 may be directly press against thethermal paper to perform the print operation.

During the print operation, one or more heating elements of theplurality of heating elements are energized to perform the printoperation. The one or more heating elements may be selected based on thedata in a print job. For example, if a letter “A” is to be printed, theone or more heating elements that are energized are positioned on theprint head 110 in such a manner that when the print head 110 is pressedagainst the ribbon 122 and the media 116, letter “A” gets printed on themedia 116.

In an example embodiment, after the print operation, the media 116 andthe ribbon 122 traverse along the media path 118 and the ribbon path124, respectively, such that the printed media 116 traverses along themedia path 118 below the image verifier housing 112. The image verifierhousing 112 may include an image capturing device (further described inFIGS. 4A-4D) that is configured to capture an image of the printedcontent. Based on the image of the printed content, the printerapparatus 100 may be configured to verify the printed content (i.e.determine whether the printed content is acceptable), as is furtherdescribed in conjunction with FIG. 10. In some examples, theverification of the printed content may enable the printer apparatus 100to perform various operations such as, but not limited to, correctingthe printed content and/or detecting an error in printed. The structureof the image verifier housing 112 is described later in conjunction withFIGS. 4A-4D.

In an example embodiment, after the verification of the printed content,the printed media is outputted from the printer media output 104. In anexample embodiment, the media 116 traverses in the print direction alongthe media path 118 to output the printed media from the printer mediaoutput 104.

In some examples, the printer apparatus 100 may further include a cover(not shown) that may be configured to conceal the various components ofthe printer apparatus 100 (including, for example, the media hub 102,the printer media output 104, the ribbon drive assembly 106, the ribbontake-up hub 108, the print head 110, the image verifier housing 112, andthe printer cover sensor 113). In some examples, where the media roll isto be changed, a user of the printer apparatus 100 may remove the coverto change the media roll. In such an example, the removal of the coverneeds to be detected so that the operation of the printer apparatus 100is halted for safety of the user. Therefore, to detect the removal ofthe cover, the printer apparatus 100 may include the printer coversensor 113. The printer cover sensor 113 may include suitable logicand/or circuitry that may be configured to detect whether the cover ofthe printer apparatus 100 has been removed or opened. In some examples,the printer cover sensor 113 may correspond to a button provided on thehousing of the printer apparatus 100, which is pressed when the cover isattached to the printer apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to aspressed state). In some examples, the printer cover sensor 113 may beconfigured to generate a signal when the printer cover sensor 113 is inpressed state. When the cover is removed from the printer apparatus 100,the button is released (hereinafter referred to as released state). Insome examples, the printer cover sensor 113 may be configured to haltgeneration of the signals and operation of the printer apparatus 100when the printer cover sensor 113 is in the released state.

In an example embodiment, the printer apparatus 100 may be configured tooperate in one or more modes. In some examples, the one or more modes ofoperation of the printer apparatus 100 may include, but are not limitedto, a print mode, a new media mode, and a calibration mode. In anexample embodiment, the operation of the printer apparatus 100 in thecalibration mode is described in conjunction with FIG. 7. In an exampleembodiment, the operation of the printer apparatus 100 in the print modeis described in conjunction with FIG. 10. In an example embodiment, theoperation of the printer apparatus 100 in the new media mode isdescribed in conjunction with FIG. 12.

FIG. 1D illustrate various electrical and drive components that may besecured to the opposite side of the central support member (chassis) ofthe printer apparatus 100. The electrical and drive components mayinclude a stepper motor 126 of a stepper motor assembly, an electroniccircuitry 128, and an electric drive assembly 130 that are secured tothe central support member on a side opposite to the printingcomponents. The electronic circuitry 128 may include one or more circuitboards 132, which may be installed in the printer apparatus 100 bysliding the circuit boards 132 through an opening 134, formed in thecasing of the printer apparatus 100. The circuit boards 132 may bechosen to suit a specific printing operation to be performed. Forexample, the electronic circuitry 128 may be changed for differentcommunications interfaces. Alternatively, software can be downloaded viaa mechanism, such as COM port or CUPS printer driver, to control aspecific printing application. There is further shown a first mountinglocation 136 and a second mounting location 138 that may be configuredto receive the stepper motor assembly.

The stepper motor 126 in the stepper motor assembly may be configured toactuate the electrical drives, such as the first, the second, and/or thethird electrical drives of various other assemblies as described above,and also a media drive (not shown), thereby controlling the traversal ofthe media 116 in the print direction and the retract direction. Forexample, in an example embodiment, the actuation of the stepper motor126 further actuates the first electrical drive that causes the mediahub 102 to rotate, which in turn causes the media roll 114 to supply themedia 116 along the media path 118 (shaded in FIG. 1C). In an exampleembodiment, the actuation of the stepper motor 126 further actuates thesecond electrical drive that causes ribbon drive assembly 106 to rotateand supply the ribbon 122 along the ribbon path 124 (shaded in FIG. 1B).In an example embodiment, the actuation of the stepper motor 126 furtheractuates the third electrical drive that may be configured to actuatethe ribbon take-up hub 108.

In some examples, the scope of the disclosure is not limited to having asingle stepper motor 126 in the printer apparatus 100. In an exampleembodiment, the printer apparatus 100 may include more than one steppermotor. For example, the printer apparatus 100 may include individualstepper motor(s) for each of the first electrical drive, the secondelectrical drive and the third electrical drive.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrate schematics of the printer apparatus 100,according to one or more embodiments described herein. As illustrated,the printer apparatus 100 further includes a first media sensor 202, asecond media sensor 204, a control system 206, and a platen roller 207.The schematic of the printer apparatus 100 further depicts the mediapath 118, and the ribbon path 124. Furthermore, the schematic of theprinter apparatus 100 depicts that the print head 110 is positioneddownstream of the media roll 114 in the print direction, and downstreamof the ribbon roll 120 along the ribbon path 124.

In an example embodiment, the print head 110 is positioned on top ofboth the ribbon path 124 and the media path 118. Further, the ribbonroll 120 is more proximate to the print head 110 in comparison to themedia roll 114. As such, the ribbon 122 (not shown) is more proximate tothe print head 110 in comparison to the media 116 (not shown), and ispositioned on top of the media 116.

During the print operation, the print head 110 moves in a verticallydownward direction (orthogonal to the print direction) to press theribbon 122 against the media 116 to perform the print operation. Morespecifically, the print head 110 includes a burn line that heats thesection of the ribbon 122 (while the ribbon 122 is pressed against themedia 116) to perform the print operation. In some examples, the burnline includes the plurality of heating element that are heated toperform the print operation. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, a position of the burnline with respect to the media path 118 is depicted by numeral 208.Further, in some examples, the burn line 208 is positioned at the firstpredetermined distance 236 from the printer media output 104. In anexample embodiment, the first predetermined distance 236 ispredetermined based on the physical distance between the burn line 208and the printer media output 104.

In an example embodiment, the platen roller 207 is positioned downstreamof the print head 110 along the media path 118 with respect to the printdirection. As described above, the platen roller 207 may be coupled tothe first electrical drive that enables the platen roller 207 to rotateand pull the media 116 from the media roll 114, and accordingly causethe media 116 to traverse along the media path 118.

Further, the schematic of the printer apparatus 100 further depicts thatthe image verifier housing 112 positioned downstream of the print head110 with respect to the print direction. In an example embodiment, theimage verifier housing 112 includes a first housing portion 212 and asecond housing portion 214. In some examples, the second housing portion214 is closer to the print head 110 compared to the first housingportion 212. In an example embodiment, the first housing portion 212includes an image capturing device 216, while the second housing portion214 includes the first media sensor 202.

In some example embodiments, the image capturing device 216 may includea lens assembly (not shown) and a sensor assembly (not shown). In anexample embodiment, the sensor assembly in the image capturing device216 may facilitate the image capturing device 216 to capture an image ofthe printed media within the field of view of the image capturing device216. In some examples, the sensor assembly may correspond to a CMOSsensor and/or CCD sensor. In an example embodiment, the field of view ofthe image capturing device 216 is depicted by the numeral 218.Hereinafter, the field of view of the image capturing device 216 isreferred to as a verifier scan line 218.

In an example embodiment, a distance between the verifier scan line 218and the burn line 208 corresponds to a second predetermined distance(depicted by 232). In some examples, the second predetermined distance232 is predetermined based on the physical distance between the verifierscan line 218 and the burn line 208.

In an example embodiment, a distance between the verifier scan line 218and the printer media output 104 corresponds to a third predetermineddistance (depicted by 234). In some examples, the third predetermineddistance 234 is predetermined based on the physical distance between theverifier scan line 218 and the printer media output 104.

In an example embodiment, the first media sensor 202 may correspond to asensor that is configured to detect a presence of the media 116 on themedia path 118. In some example embodiments, the first media sensor 202may be configured to detect the presence of the media 116 by determiningtransmissivity and/or reflectivity of the media 116. In an exampleembodiment, the transmissivity of the media 116 may correspond to ameasurement of an intensity of a light signal that the media 116 allowsto pass through it. In an example embodiment, the reflectivity of themedia 116 may corresponds to a measurement of an intensity of lightsignal that gets reflected from a surface of the media 116.

In some example embodiments, the first media sensor 202 includes a lighttransmitter 220 a and a light receiver 222 a. The light transmitter 220a may correspond to a light source, such as a Light Emitting Diode(LED), a LASER, and/or the like. The light transmitter 220 a may beconfigured to direct the light signal on the media path 118. The lightreceiver 222 a may correspond to at least one of a photodetector, aphotodiode, or a photo resistor. The light receiver 222 a may generate afirst signal based on an intensity of the light signal received by thelight receiver 222 a. In an example embodiment, the first signal maycorrespond to a voltage signal, where the one or more characteristics ofthe voltage signal (such as the amplitude of the voltage signal and thefrequency of the voltage signal) are directly proportional or inverselyproportional to the intensity of the portion of the light signalreceived by the first media sensor 202.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, the light transmitter 220 a of the first mediasensor 202 may be configured to direct the light signal on the mediapath 118. If the media 116 is present on the media path 118, a portionof light signal may get reflected from the surface of the media 116. Thelight receiver 222 a may receive the portion of the light signal. Basedon the intensity of the portion of the light signal, the light receiver222 a is configured to generate the first signal. Because the intensityof the portion of the light signal reflected from the surface of themedia 116 is dependent on the reflectivity of the media 116, the firstsignal generated by the first media sensor 202 (based on the intensityof the portion of the light signal) is indicative of a measurement ofthe reflectivity of the media 116.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, the first media sensor 202 may be configuredto determine the transmissivity of the media 116. To determine thetransmissivity of the media 116, the light receiver 222 b may receivethe portion of the light signal that passes through the media 116. Toreceive the portion of the light signal that passes through the media116, the light receiver 222 b is spaced apart from the light transmitter220 a in such a manner that the media 116 passes through a space betweenthe light receiver 222 a and the light transmitter 220 a. When the lighttransmitter 220 a directs the light signal on the media 116, the portionof the light signal passes through the media 116 is receivable by thelight receiver 222 b. The light receiver 222 b may generate the firstsignal in accordance with the measured intensity of the portion of lightsignal received. Because the intensity of the portion of the lightsignal that passes through the media 116 is dependent on thetransmissivity of the media 116, the first signal generated by the firstmedia sensor 202 (based on the intensity of the portion of the lightsignal) is indicative of a measurement of the transmissivity of themedia 116.

In some examples, the first media sensor 202 is configured to generatethe first signal in accordance with a predetermined sampling rateassociated with the first media sensor 202. In an example embodiment,the predetermined sampling rate is predetermined based on a frequency atwhich the first media sensor 202 determines thetransmissivity/reflectivity of the media 116 and accordingly transmitsthe first signal.

In an example embodiment, the first media sensor 202 may be utilized todetect a position of the plurality of labels 117 on the media path 118.As described, each of the plurality of labels 117 in the media 116 havethe leading edge 119 a and the trailing edge 119 b (formed byperforations or marks). Therefore, when such marks/perforations on themedia 116 passes over the first media sensor 202 during traversal of themedia 116, the first media sensor 202 may detect a suddenincrease/decrease in the measurement of the transmissivity/reflectivityof media 116. Accordingly, the first signal, generated by the firstmedia sensor 202, also depict such sudden increase/decrease in themeasurement of the transmissivity/reflectivity of the media 116. Forexample, the first signal may include spikes or valleys indicating thesudden increase or decrease in the measurement of thetransmissivity/reflectivity of media 116. Such spikes and valleys may beutilized to detect the leading edge and trailing edge of labels, andidentify the position of the plurality of labels 117 on the media path118.

In some examples, the second media sensor 204 is similar to the firstmedia sensor 202 structurally and functionally. For example, the secondmedia sensor 204 may be configured to generate a second signalindicative of the measurement of the transmissivity/reflectivity of themedia 116. In an example embodiment, the first media sensor 202 islocated within the image verifier housing 112 such that the first mediasensor 202 is between the print head 110 and the image capturing device216. In alternative embodiment, the first media sensor 202 may not belocated within the image verifier housing. In such an embodiment, thefirst media sensor 202 may be positioned outside the image verifierhousing 112 but between the print head 110 and the image capturingdevice 216, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In anexample embodiment, the second media sensor 204 may be positionedupstream of the print head 110 with respect to the print direction, andthe second media sensor 204 may be positioned downstream of the mediahub 102 with respect to the print direction.

In an example embodiment, both the first media sensor 202 and the secondmedia sensor 204 determine the measurement of thetransmissivity/reflectivity of a portion of the media within a field ofview of the first media sensor 202 and the second media sensor 204.Hereinafter, the field of views of the first media sensor 202 and thesecond media sensor 204 are referred to as a first media sensor scanline (depicted by 224) and a second media sensor scan line (depicted by226).

In an example embodiment, a distance between the first media sensor scanline 224 and the burn line 208 corresponds to a fourth predetermineddistance (depicted by 228). In some examples, the fourth predetermineddistance 228 is predetermined based on a physical distance between thefirst media sensor scan line 224 and burn line 208 in the print head110.

In an example embodiment, a distance between the first media sensor scanline 224 and the printer media output 104 corresponds to a fifthpredetermined distance 238. In some examples, the fifth predetermineddistance 238 is predetermined based on a physical distance between theprinter media output 104 and the first media sensor 202.

In an example embodiment, a distance between the second media sensorscan line 226 and the burn line 208 corresponds to a sixth predetermineddistance (depicted by 230). In some examples, the sixth predetermineddistance 230 is predetermined based on the physical distance between thesecond media sensor scan line and the burn line 208 in the print head110.

The printer apparatus 100 further includes a control system 206 thatincludes suitable logic and circuitry to control the operation of theprinter apparatus 100. For example, the control system 206 may beconfigured to control the operation of one or more components of theprinter apparatus 100 to control the operation of the printer apparatus100. For example, the control system 206 may be configured to controlthe heating/energization of the plurality of heating elements in theprint head 110 to execute the print job. Further, the control system 206may be communicatively coupled with the first media sensor 202, thesecond media sensor 204, the first electrical drive, the secondelectrical drive, and the third electrical drive. The structure of thecontrol system 206 is further described in conjunction with FIG. 4.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D depict the printer apparatus 100 as the thermaltransfer printer. In some embodiments, the scope of the disclosure isnot limited to the printer apparatus 100 being a thermal transferprinter. In alternate embodiments, the printer apparatus 100 maycorrespond to a direct thermal or laser printer, as is further describedin conjunction with FIGS. 3A and 3B, which illustrate a perspective viewand a schematic of an example direct thermal printer 300, respectively,according to one or more embodiments described herein.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the direct thermal printer 300 includes a housing302 that includes a top cover 303 and a main body 304. The top cover 303is pivotally coupled to the main body 304. Further, the top cover 303receives the print head 305 and the image verifier housing 307. The mainbody 304 of the direct thermal printer 300 has a print bed 306 fromwhich a pair of media support members 308 extends in an upwarddirection. The pair of media support members 308 is configured toreceive the media roll 309. In an example embodiment, the media 310 inthe media roll 309 corresponds to a thermal print media.

In an example embodiment, the main body 304 is further configured toreceive a platen roller 312 is configured to cause the media 310 totraverse from the media roll 309 to a printer media output 314. When thedirect thermal printer 300 executes a print job, the print head 305 maydirectly press against the media 310 to print content on the media 310.Because the media 310 is a thermal media, the content is printed on themedia 310 on application of heat (through pressing the plurality ofheating elements of the print head 305 against the media 310).

Referring to FIG. 3B, the direct thermal printer 300 further includesthe second media sensor 322, the image verifier housing, and the controlsystem 326. Similar to as described above regarding the printerapparatus 100, the image verifier housing 307 in the direct thermalprinter 300 may include the first media sensor 324 and the imagecapturing device 328.

For the purpose of ongoing description, the various embodiments of thepresent disclosure have been described in view of the printer apparatus100. However, the embodiments described herein are also applicable ofthe direct thermal printer 300, without departing from the scope of thedisclosure.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate the image verifier housing 112, according to oneor more embodiments described herein. Referring to FIG. 4A, a cutawayinside view of the image verifier housing 112 is illustrated. The imageverifier housing 112 includes the first housing portion 212 and thesecond housing portion 214. The first housing portion 212 includes awindow 404, a circuit board 406, the image capturing device 216, a lensarray 408, a light board 410, a plurality of light sources 414 (e.g.,light emitting diodes (LEDs)), and an ultrasonic vibrator 412. The firsthousing portion 402 forms an enclosure for protecting the internalcomponents, such as the circuit board 406, the image capturing device216, the lens array 408, the light board 410, the plurality of lightsources 414 (e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs)), and the ultrasonicvibrator 412 of the image verifier housing 112.

The window 404, which may correspond to an open or may be composed of atransparent material (such as glass), permits the plurality of lightsources 414 in the image verifier housing 112 to project light upon theprinted media. Based on the projected light, the image capturing device216 captures an image of printed media as the print media traversesacross the window 404 (in the print direction).

The circuit board 406 may be configured to facilitate communicationbetween various other internal components, such as the image capturingdevice 216, the lens array 408, the light board 410, the plurality oflight sources 414, and the ultrasonic vibrator 412. In variousembodiments, the internal components may be electrically coupled witheach other through the circuit board 406.

In an example embodiment, the image capturing device 216 may be an arrayof linear sensors configured to capture images of the printed media asthe media 116 traverses past the window 404 of the first housing portion402.

The lens array 408 may be a group of lenses arranged in a specificpattern configured to receive reflected light from the printed media anddirect the reflected light on the image capturing device 216. In anexample embodiment, the image capturing device 216 may generate theimage of the printed content based on the received reflected light. Insome examples, the lens array 408 may have one or more rows of gradientindex lenses, with each lens having a continuous change of refractiveindex inside a cylinder. The one or more rows of gradient index (GRIN)lenses, such as a SELFOC® brand lens array, couple the light reflectedfrom the printed content on the media 116 to the image capturing device216.

Referring to FIG. 4B, in an example embodiment, the light board 410 maybe configured to support the plurality of light sources 414 (e.g., lightemitting diodes (LEDs)) in the first housing portion 402. In an exampleembodiment, the plurality of light sources 414 may be spread out acrossthe length of the light board 410 in a specified pattern forilluminating the printed media. The plurality of light sources 414 maybe configured to illuminate and project light upon the printed media asthe media 116 traverse across the window 404. The plurality of lightsources 414 correspond to LEDs that are fixed on the light board 410 inthe specified pattern. In this example embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 4B, there are shown 12 LEDs as the plurality of light sources 414.However, the plurality of light sources 414 may include more or fewerlight sources for illuminating the printed media 116 in other exampleembodiments.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the ultrasonic vibrator 412 may be mounted directlyon the window 404. The ultrasonic vibrator 412 may be configured tovibrate the window 404 to prevent dust or other small particles fromsettling on the surface of the window 404. In some embodiments, theultrasonic vibrator 412 may be a piezoelectric element.

The image verifier housing 112 include the second housing portion 214.The second housing portion 214 is mechanically coupled to the firsthousing portion 212 such that the second housing portion 214 isproximate to the print head 110. As described above, the second housingportion 214 includes the light transmitter 220 a and the light receiver222 a. In some examples, the first housing portion 212 and the secondhousing portion 214 may be integrally formed to create the imageverifier housing 112.

Referring to FIG. 4D, a schematic diagram of various components of theimage verifier housing 112 is shown. The image verifier housing 112 maybe configured to receive a plurality of signals including an encodersignal, power and ground signals, and a light control signal from thecontrol system 206 of the printer apparatus 100. The power interfacecircuit 422 receives such signals, buffers the signals as necessary, andsupplies appropriate signals to several other components in the imageverifier housing 112. The power interface circuit 422 may include thenecessary components to supply appropriate power and ground signals tothe other components in the image verifier housing 112.

In some examples, the light source 414 provides light through window 404to illuminate the field of view of the image capturing device 216. In anexample embodiment, the field of view of the image capturing device 216may include the label 117 a. The reflected light from the label 117 apasses through window 404 to lens array 408 and is measured by the imagecapturing device 216. In some examples, the image capturing device 216may transmit the captured image to the control system 206.

Further, referring to FIG. 4D, the first media sensor 202 in the secondhousing portion 214 may be configured to direct the light signal on themedia 116 (for example the label 117 a), which gets reflected from thesurface of the media 116 and is received by the light receiver 222 a. Asdescribed, the light receiver 222 a may be configured to generate thefirst signal based on the received intensity of the light signal.Further, the light receiver 222 a may be configured to transmit thefirst signal to the control system 206.

FIG. 5. illustrates a block diagram of the control system 206, accordingto one or more embodiments described herein. The control system 206includes a processor 502, a memory device 504, a communication interface506, an input/output (I/O) device interface unit 508, a calibration unit510, a print operation unit 512, a signal processing unit 514, an imageprocessing unit 516, and a media alignment unit 518. In an exampleembodiment, the processor 502 may be communicatively coupled to each ofthe memory device 504, the communication interface 506, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508, the calibration unit 510, the print operation unit512, the signal processing unit 514, the image processing unit 516, andthe media alignment unit 518.

The processor 502 may be embodied as a means including one or moremicroprocessors with accompanying digital signal processor(s), one ormore processor(s) without an accompanying digital signal processor, oneor more coprocessors, one or more multi-core processors, one or morecontrollers, processing circuitry, one or more computers, various otherprocessing elements including integrated circuits such as, for example,an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or field programmablegate array (FPGA), remote or “cloud” processors, or some combinationthereof. Accordingly, although illustrated in FIG. 5 as a singleprocessor, in an embodiment, the processor 502 may include a pluralityof processors and signal processing modules. The plurality of processorsmay be embodied on a single electronic device or may be distributedacross a plurality of electronic devices collectively configured tofunction as the circuitry of the control system 206. The plurality ofprocessors may be in operative communication with each other and may becollectively configured to perform one or more functionalities of thecircuitry of the control system 206, as described herein. In an exampleembodiment, the processor 502 may be configured to execute instructionsstored in the memory device 504 or otherwise accessible to the processor502. These instructions, when executed by the processor 502, may causethe circuitry of the control system 206 to perform one or more of thefunctionalities, as described herein.

Whether configured by hardware, firmware/software methods, or by acombination thereof, the processor 502 may include an entity capable ofperforming operations according to embodiments of the present disclosurewhile configured accordingly. Thus, for example, when the processor 502is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA or the like, the processor 502 may includespecifically configured hardware for conducting one or more operationsdescribed herein. Alternatively, as another example, when the processor502 is embodied as an executor of instructions, such as may be stored inthe memory device 504, the instructions may specifically configure theprocessor 502 to perform one or more algorithms and operations describedherein.

Thus, the processor 502 used herein may refer to a programmablemicroprocessor, microcomputer or multiple processor chip or chips thatcan be configured by software instructions (applications) to perform avariety of functions, including the functions of the various embodimentsdescribed above. In some devices, multiple processors may be provideddedicated to wireless communication functions and one processordedicated to running other applications. Software applications may bestored in the internal memory before they are accessed and loaded intothe processors. The processors may include internal memory sufficient tostore the application software instructions. In many devices, theinternal memory may be a volatile or nonvolatile memory, such as flashmemory, or a mixture of both. The memory can also be located internal toanother computing resource (e.g., enabling computer readableinstructions to be downloaded over the Internet or another wired orwireless connection).

The memory device 504 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and/orinterfaces that are adapted to store a set of instructions that isexecutable by the processor 502 to perform predetermined operations.Some of the commonly known memory implementations include, but are notlimited to, a hard disk, random access memory, cache memory, read onlymemory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) &electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flashmemory, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, a compact disc read only memory(CD-ROM), digital versatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM), an opticaldisc, circuitry configured to store information, or some combinationthereof. In an embodiment, the memory device 504 may be integrated withthe processor 502 on a single chip, without departing from the scope ofthe disclosure.

The communication interface 506 may correspond to a communicationinterface that may facilitate transmission and reception of messages anddata to and from various devices. For example, the communicationinterface 506 is communicatively coupled with a computing device (notshown). Examples of the communication interface 506 may include, but arenot limited to, an antenna, an Ethernet port, a USB port, a serial port,or any other port that can be adapted to receive and transmit data. Thecommunication interface 506 transmits and receives data and/or messagesin accordance with the various communication protocols, such as, I2C,TCP/IP, UDP, and 5G, 5G, or 5G communication protocols.

The I/O device interface unit 508 may include suitable logic and/orcircuitry that may be configured to communicate with the one or morecomponents of the printer apparatus 100, in accordance with one or moredevice communication protocols such as, but not limited to, I2Ccommunication protocol, Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) communicationprotocol, Serial communication protocol, Control Area Network (CAN)communication protocol, and 1-Wire® communication protocol. In anexample embodiment, the I/O device interface unit 508 may communicatewith the first media sensor 202, the second media sensor 204, the imagecapturing device 216, the media roll sensor 103, the printer coversensor 113, and the stepper motor 126. In an example embodiment, the I/Odevice interface unit 508 may receive the first signal and the secondsignal from the first media sensor 202 and the second media sensor 204,respectively. Further, in some examples, the I/O device interface unit508 may cause the stepper motor 126 to actuate the first electricaldrive associated with the media hub 102. As described, the actuation ofthe first electrical drive causes the media hub 102 to rotate and supplythe media 116 on the media path 118. Some examples of the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 may include, but not limited to, a Data Acquisition(DAQ) card, an electrical drives driver circuit, and/or the like.

The calibration unit 510 may include suitable logic and/or circuitry forcalibrating the printer apparatus 100, as is further described inconjunction with FIG. 7. In an example embodiment, the calibration unit510 may be configured to determine one or more parameters of the media116 (for example, a length of the plurality of labels 117 in the media116), as is further described in FIG. 9. Additionally or alternatively,in some examples, the one or more parameters of the media 116 mayfurther include, but may not limited to, a width of the media 116, and atype of media 116. Hereinafter, the length of the plurality of labels117 is referred to as label length. In an example embodiment, thecalibration unit 510 may be configured to store the one or moreparameters associated with the media 116 in the memory device 504. Insome embodiments, the calibration unit 510 includes a separateprocessor. In some embodiments, the calibration unit 510 may leverageprocessor 502. The calibration unit 510 may be implemented usinghardware components of the apparatus configured by either hardware orsoftware for implementing the functions described herein.

The print operation unit 512 may include suitable logic and/or circuitrythat may cause the printer apparatus 100 to perform a print operation,as is further described in conjunction with FIG. 10. In an exampleembodiment, the print operation unit 512 may be configured to receivethe print job from the computing device. Thereafter, the print operationunit 512 may be configured to perform the print operation based on theprint job. For instance, during the print operation, the print operationunit 512 may be configured to instruct the I/O device interface unit 508to actuate the first electrical drive, the second electrical drive, andthe third electrical drive, which are associated with the media hub 102,the ribbon drive assembly 106, and ribbon take-up hub 108, respectively,to cause the traversal of the media 116 and the ribbon 122 along themedia path 118 and the ribbon path 124, respectively. Further, the printoperation unit 512 may be configured to control the operation of theprint head 110 (for example energization of the one or more heatingelements and the vertical translation of the print head 110) to performthe print operation. In some embodiments, the print operation unit 512includes a separate processor. In some embodiments, the print operationunit 512 may leverage processor 502. The print operation unit 512 may beimplemented using hardware components of the apparatus configured byeither hardware or software for implementing the functions describedherein.

The signal processing unit 514 may include suitable logic and/orcircuitry for analyzing the first signal and the second signal receivedfrom the first media sensor 202 and the second media sensor 204,respectively. In an example embodiment, the signal processing unit 514may include a digital signal processor that may be configured to analyzethe first signal and the second signal to determine one or moremeasurements of one or more characteristics of the first signal and thesecond signal, as is described in FIGS. 7 and 8. In an exampleembodiment, the one or more characteristics of the first signal and thesecond signal may include, but are not limited to, an amplitude and afrequency of the first signal and the second signal. Further, the signalprocessing unit 514 may utilize one or more signal processing techniquessuch as, but not limited to, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), DiscreteFourier Transform (DFT), Discrete Time Fourier Transform (DTFT) toanalyze the first signal and the second signal. In some embodiments, thesignal processing unit 514 includes a separate processor. In someembodiments, the signal processing unit 514 may leverage processor 502.The signal processing unit 514 may be implemented using hardwarecomponents of the apparatus configured by either hardware or softwarefor implementing the functions described herein.

The image processing unit 516 may include suitable logic and/orcircuitry for receiving the image of the printed content from the imagecapturing device 216 in the image verifier housing 112. In an exampleembodiment, the image processing unit 516 may be configured to verifythe printed content based on the captured image of the printed content,as is further described in conjunction with FIG. 10. In someembodiments, the image processing unit 516 includes a separateprocessor. In some embodiments, the image processing unit 516 mayleverage processor 502. The image processing unit 516 may be implementedusing hardware components of the apparatus configured by either hardwareor software for implementing the functions described herein.

The media alignment unit 518 may include suitable logic and/or circuitryfor aligning the media 116 with the print head 110, as is furtherdescribed in conjunction with FIG. 10. More particularly, the mediaalignment unit 518 may be configured to align one of plurality of labels117 with the print head 110, as is further described in conjunction withFIG. 10. Additionally, the media alignment unit 518 may be furtherconfigured to update the length of the plurality of labels 117 when anew media roll is installed in the printer apparatus 100, as is furtherdescribed in conjunction with FIG. 12. In some embodiments, the mediaalignment unit 518 includes a separate processor. In some embodiments,the media alignment unit 518 may leverage processor 502. The mediaalignment unit 518 may be implemented using hardware components of theapparatus configured by either hardware or software for implementing thefunctions described herein.

In some examples, the scope of the disclosure is not limited to thecontrol system 206 comprising the aforementioned components and/orunits. In an example embodiment, some of the components may beimplemented in other components of the printer apparatus 100. Forexample, the image processing unit 516 may be implemented in the imagecapturing device 216 (in the image verifier housing 112). Similarly, insome examples, the signal processing unit 514 may be implemented in thefirst media sensor 202 or the second media sensor 204, without departingfrom the scope of the disclosure.

FIGS. 6-7, 9-10, and 12 illustrate example flowcharts of the operationsperformed by an apparatus, such as the printer apparatus 100 as shown inFIGS. 1A-1C and the direct thermal printer 300 as shown in FIGS. 3A-3Bin accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. It willbe understood that each block of the flowcharts, and combinations ofblocks in the flowcharts, may be implemented by various means, such ashardware, firmware, one or more processors, circuitry and/or otherdevices associated with execution of software including one or morecomputer program instructions. For example, one or more of theprocedures described above may be embodied by computer programinstructions. In this regard, the computer program instructions whichembody the procedures described above may be stored by a memory of anapparatus employing an embodiment of the present invention and executedby a processor in the apparatus. As will be appreciated, any suchcomputer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or otherprogrammable apparatus (e.g., hardware) to produce a machine, such thatthe resulting computer or other programmable apparatus provides forimplementation of the functions specified in the flowcharts' block(s).These computer program instructions may also be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable storage memory that may direct acomputer or other programmable apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablestorage memory produce an article of manufacture, the execution of whichimplements the function specified in the flowcharts' block(s). Thecomputer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable apparatus to cause a series of operations to beperformed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce acomputer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide operations forimplementing the functions specified in the flowcharts' block(s). Assuch, the operations of FIGS. 6-7, 9-10, and 12, when executed, converta computer or processing circuitry into a particular machine configuredto perform an example embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly,the operations of FIGS. 6-7, 9-10, and 12 define algorithms forconfiguring a computer or processor, to perform an example embodiment.In some cases, a general purpose computer may be provided with aninstance of the processor which performs the algorithm of FIGS. 6-7,9-10, and 12 to transform the general purpose computer into a particularmachine configured to perform an example embodiment.

Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart support combinations of means forperforming the specified functions and combinations of operations forperforming the specified functions. It will also be understood that oneor more blocks of the flowcharts', and combinations of blocks in theflowchart, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computersystems which perform the specified functions, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart 600 for operating the printer apparatus100, according to one or more embodiments described herein.

At step 602, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, and/or the like, for determining whether an input to configure theprinter apparatus 100 in the calibration mode is received. In someembodiments, a user of the printer apparatus 100 may provide the input(corresponding to operating the printer apparatus 100 in the calibrationmode) by pressing one or more buttons provided on an input panel of theprinter apparatus 100 in a predetermined pattern. In an exampleembodiment, the predetermined pattern may correspond to pressing thebutton in a predetermined sequence or for a predetermined time duration.For example, the user may keep a button pressed for 10 seconds. In someexample embodiments, the predetermined pattern may be pre-configuredduring manufacturing of the printer apparatus 100.

If the I/O device interface unit 508 determines that the input toconfigure the printer apparatus 100 in the calibration mode is received,the processor 502 may be configured to perform step 604. At step 604,the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as the control system206, the processor 502, the calibration unit 510, and/or the like, foroperating the printer apparatus 100 in the calibration mode. Theoperation of the printer apparatus 100 in the calibration mode isfurther described in conjunction with FIG. 7.

However, if at step 602, the I/O device interface unit 508 determinesthat the input to configure the printer apparatus 100 in the calibrationmode is not received, the processor 502 may be configured to performstep 606. At step 606, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such asthe control system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, and/or the like, for determining whether the printer cover isremoved. In an example embodiment, the I/O device interface unit 508 maybe configured to monitor the signal received from the printer coversensor 113 to determine whether the printer cover sensor 113 is in thepressed state or in the released state. As described, the printer coversensor 113 is in pressed state when the cover is attached to the printerapparatus 100. Further, in the pressed state, the printer cover sensor113 generates the signal. As described, the printer cover sensor 113 isin the released state when the cover is removed from the printerapparatus 100. In the released state, the printer cover sensor 113 haltsthe generation of the signal.

Accordingly, at step 606, the I/O device interface unit 508 determinewhether the cover is attached to the printer apparatus 100 based on thereception of the signal from the printer cover sensor 113. For example,when the I/O device interface unit 508 receives the signal, the I/Odevice interface unit 508 determines that the printer cover is attachedto the printer apparatus 100, and may be configured to perform step 620.If the I/O device interface unit 508 does not receives the signal fromthe printer cover sensor 113, the I/O device interface unit 508determines that the printer cover has been removed from the printerapparatus 100, and may be configured to perform step 608.

At step 608, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, and/or the like, for determining a measurement of the one or moreparameters associated with the media roll 114. As described, the one ormore parameters associated with the media roll 114 includes the weightof the media roll 114, the diameter of the media roll 114, and the rpmwith which the media hub 102 rotates to supply the media 116 on themedia path 118.

In some embodiments, the I/O device interface unit 508 may cause themedia roll sensor 103 to determine the measurements of the one or moreparameters associated with the media roll 114 when the cover of theprinter apparatus 100 is removed. For example, the I/O device interfaceunit 508 may cause the media roll sensor 103 to determine themeasurement of the weight of the media roll 114 and the diameter of themedia roll 114 when the cover of the printer apparatus 100 is removed.Further, the I/O device interface unit 508 may be configured to storethe measurements of the weight of the media roll 114 and the diameter ofthe media roll 114 in the memory device 504 as previous measurements ofthe one or more parameters associated with the media roll 114. In someembodiments, the I/O device interface unit 508 may be configured tostore the last known measurements of the one or more parametersassociated with the media roll 114 in the memory device 504 as theprevious measurements of the one or more parameters associated with themedia roll 114.

In some embodiments, the last known measurements of the one or moreparameters associated with the media roll 114 may correspond tomeasurements determined at a time instant prior to removal of theprinter cover. For example, the I/O device interface unit 508 may havecaused the media roll sensor 103 to determine the measurements of theone or more parameters associated with the media roll 114 prior toremoval of the printer cover, such as during execution of a print job.

At step 610, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, and/or the like, for determining whether the printer cover of theprinter apparatus 100 has been reattached. In an example embodiment, theI/O device interface unit 508 may utilize similar methodology as isdescribed in step 606 to determine whether the cover has been reattachedto the printer apparatus 100. For example, the I/O device interface unit508 may determine that the cover is attached to the printer apparatus100 based on the reception of the signal from the printer cover sensor113. If the I/O device interface unit 508 determines that the cover isattached to the printer apparatus 100, the I/O device interface unit 508may be configured to perform step 612. However, if the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 determines that the cover is not attached to theprinter apparatus 100, the I/O device interface unit 508 may beconfigured to repeat step 610.

At step 612, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, and/or the like, for causing the media roll sensor 103 to determinecurrent measurements of the one or more parameters associated with themedia roll 114.

At step 614, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, and/or the like, for comparing the current measurement(s) of theone or more parameters associated with the current media roll with theprevious measurement(s) of the one or more parameters associated withthe previous media roll (retrieved from the memory device 504) todetermine whether they are different. For example, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 may determine the current measurement of the weightof the media roll as 250 gm, and retrieves the previous weight of themedia roll as 100 gm. Therefore, based on the comparison, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 may determine that the weight of the media roll 114has increased. Accordingly, the I/O device interface unit 508 determinesthat the current measurements of the one or more parameters associatedwith the media roll 114 are different from the previous measurements ofthe one or more parameters associated with the media roll 114.

If, at step 614, the I/O device interface unit 508 determines that thecurrent measurement(s) of the one or more parameters associated with themedia roll 114 are different from the previous measurement(s) of the oneor more parameters associated with the media roll 114, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 may be configured to perform step 616. However, ifthe I/O device interface unit 508 determines that the currentmeasurements of the one or more parameters associated with the mediaroll 114 are not different from the previous measurements of the one ormore parameters associated with the media roll 114, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 may be configured to perform step 620.

At step 616, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the media alignment unit 518, and/or the like, for determining thata new media roll has been installed in the printer apparatus 100.Accordingly, at 618, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such asthe control system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the media alignment unit 518, and/or the like, for operating theprinter apparatus 100 in the new media mode. The operation of theprinter apparatus 100 in the new media mode is described in conjunctionwith FIG. 12.

At step 620, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512,and/or the like, for operating the printer apparatus 100 in the printmode. The operation of the printer apparatus 100 in the print mode isdescribed in conjunction with FIG. 10.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart 700 of a method for operating the printerapparatus 100 in the calibration mode, according to one or moreembodiments described herein.

At step 702, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the calibration unit 510, the I/Odevice interface unit 508, and/or the like, for causing the media 116 totraverse along the media path 118 in the print direction. In an exampleembodiment, the calibration unit 510 may be configured to instruct theI/O device interface unit 508 to actuate the first electrical driveassociated with the media hub 102 and the platen roller 207. Theactuation of the first electrical drive causes the media hub 102 and theplaten roller 207 to rotate, which in turn causes the media roll 114 tosupply the media 116 along the media path 118. As the media 116traverses along the media path 118, the media 116 also traverses withrespect to the first media sensor 202 and the second media sensor 204.

In some examples, the I/O device interface unit 508 may be configured toactuate the first electrical drive at a predetermined angular velocity.In an example embodiment, the actuation of the first electrical drive atthe predetermined angular velocity causes the media 116 to traversealong the media path 118 at a determined linear speed. In an exampleembodiment, the calibration unit 510 may be configured to store thepredetermined angular velocity of the first electrical drive and thedetermined linear speed of the media 116 in the memory device 504.

At step 704, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the calibration unit 510, the I/Odevice interface unit 508, and/or the like, for receiving the secondsignal from the second media sensor 204 while the media 116 traversesalong the media path 118. As described above, the second signalcorresponds to the voltage signal that is representative of themeasurement of the transmissivity/reflectivity of the media 116 as themedia 116 traverses along the media path 118 in the print direction.Further, as described above, the transmissivity/reflectivity of themedia 116 is determined based on the intensity of the portion of thelight signal reflected from the surface of the media 116 or transmittedthrough the media 116. Therefore, the second signal generated by thesecond media sensor 204 is representative of the intensity of theportion of the light signal received by the second media sensor 204.More specifically, the one or more characteristics of the second signal(such as the amplitude of the second signal and the frequency of thesecond signal) are representative of the intensity of the portion of thelight signal received by the media sensor 204. For example, if theintensity of the portion of light signal received by the second mediasensor 204 at a first time instant is greater than the intensity of theportion of the light signal received by the second media sensor 204 at asecond time instant, the amplitude of the second signal generated by thesecond media sensor 204 at the first time instant is greater than theintensity of the second signal generated by the second media sensor 204at the second time instant.

In an example embodiment, as the media 116 traverses along the mediapath 118, different sections of the media 116 passes over the secondmedia sensor 204. Accordingly, the measure of thetransmissivity/reflectivity varies as the media 116 traverses along themedia path 118. Further, as described above, the media 116 has theplurality of labels 117 that has the leading edge 119 a and the trailingedge 119 b (i.e., defined by the one or more perforations and/or the oneor more marks). When such marks/perforations pass over the second mediasensor 204 while the media 116 traverses along the media path 118, thesecond media sensor 204 may sense a sudden increase in the intensity ofthe light signal or a sudden decrease in the intensity of the lightsignal, received by the light receiver of the second media sensor 204.Accordingly, the second media sensor 204 generates the second signalthat may be indicative of such variations in received light signals. Forexample, such sudden increase in the intensity of the received lightsignal may be depicted by a peak in the second signal (i.e., a spike inthe amplitude of the second signal). In another example, the suddendecrease in the intensity of the light signal may be depicted by avalley in the second signal. One such example second signal is describedin conjunction with FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 illustrates a graphical representation 800 of an example secondsignal, according to one or more embodiments described herein.

The graphical representation 800 includes an X-axis 802 and a Y-axis804. The X-axis 802 represents the time duration for which the examplesecond signal is received. The Y-axis 804 represents a measure ofamplitude of the example second signal. The curve 806 represents thevariation in the measurement of the amplitude of the example secondsignal. For example, the curve 806 has various peaks such as 808 a and808 b. The peak 808 a and the peak 808 b are chronologically spacedapart from each other. Further, the peaks 808 a and 808 b depict suddenincrease in the measure of transmissivity of the media 116 as the media116 traverses along the media path 118. As described, the suddenincrease in the measure of transmissivity of the media 116 is due to,for example, passing of a perforation (e.g., the leading edge or thetrailing edge of the label (e.g., 117 a)) on the media 116 over thesecond media sensor 204. Therefore, the peaks 808 a and 808 b mayrepresent that the perforations on the media 116 may have traversed overthe second media sensor 204, as the media 116 traverses along the mediapath 118.

Further, as described above, the perforations are utilized to divide themedia 116 in the plurality of labels 117, and each label of theplurality of labels 117 has two perforations that are utilized to definethe two edges of the label (i.e., the leading edge 119 a and thetrailing edge 119 b). Therefore, in some examples, when the perforationpasses over the second media sensor 204, either the leading edge 119 aor the trailing edge 119 b associated with the label (e.g., 117 a) ofthe plurality of labels 117 may have traversed over the second mediasensor 204. Accordingly, the peaks 808 a and 808 b may depict theleading edge 119 a and the trailing edge 119 b of the label 117 a,respectively.

Referring back to FIG. 7, at step 706, the printer apparatus 100includes means, such as the control system 206, the processor 502, thecalibration unit 510, the signal processing unit 514, and/or the like,for determining the length of the plurality of labels 117 in the media116 based on the received second signal. The determination of the lengthof the plurality of labels 117 is further described in conjunction withFIG. 9.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart 900 of a method for determining thelength of the plurality of labels 117, according to the one or moreembodiments described herein.

At step 902, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the signal processing unit 514,and/or the like, for identifying a plurality of peaks in the secondsignal (received in the step 704). In an example embodiment, the signalprocessing unit 514 may be configured to utilize one or more signalprocessing techniques to identify the plurality of peaks in the receivedsecond signal, including, but are not limited to, running averages,signal smoothening, wavelet transformation, and/or the like. Asdescribed above, the plurality of peaks in the second signal may berepresentative the sudden increase in the measure of transmissivity ofthe media 116, and the sudden increase in the measure of transmissivityof the media 116 indicates that either the leading edge or the trailingedge of the label of plurality of labels 117 has traversed over thesecond media sensor 204 during the traversal of the media 116 along themedia path 118.

At step 904, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the signal processing unit 514,and/or the like, for determining a time duration between two consecutivepeaks in the second signal. As described above, the plurality of peaksrepresents either the leading edge or the trailing edge (defined by theperforations) of plurality of labels 117, and a contiguous stretch ofthe media 116 between two consecutive perforations corresponds to thelabel 117 a in the media 116. Accordingly, the time duration between thetwo consecutive peaks may correspond to a time period that the label 117a took to traverse past the second media sensor 204 during traversal ofthe media 116 along the media path 118.

At step 906, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the calibration unit 510, and/orthe like, for determining the length of the label 117 a based on thedetermined time duration between the two consecutive peaks and thedetermined linear speed of media traversal along the media path 118. Asdescribed above, during calibration, the I/O device interface unit 508causes the media to traverse along the media path 118 at the determinedlinear speed (by rotating the media roll 114 at the predeterminedangular velocity). Therefore, in an example embodiment, the calibrationunit 510 may utilize the relationship between the speed and time todetermine the length of the label 117 a. Further, the calibration unit510 may be configured to store the determined length of the label 117 ain the memory device 504 as original label length.

In some embodiments, the scope of the disclosure is not limited todetermining the original label length as is described in conjunctionwith FIG. 9. In an example embodiment, other methods can be utilized todetermine the original label length of the plurality of labels 117,without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the scope of the disclosure is not limited to thecalibration unit 510 utilizing the second signal, received from thesecond media sensor 204, to determine the original label length of theplurality of labels 117. In an example embodiment, the calibration unit510 may be configured to utilize the first signal received from thefirst media sensor 202 to determine the original label length of theplurality of labels 117. In an example embodiment, the calibration unit510 may utilize the methodologies described in the flowchart 900 todetermine the original label length based on the first signal.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart 1000 for operating the printer apparatus100 in the print mode, according to one or more embodiments describedherein.

At step 1002, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the communication interface 506,the print operation unit 512, and/or the like, for receiving a print jobfrom the computing device. In an example embodiment, the print operationunit 512 may receive the print job through the communication interface506. In some examples, the print job may include information pertainingto the content to be printed on the media 116. Further, the print jobmay include information pertaining to a location on the media 116 wherethe content is to be printed. For instance, the print job may includeinformation pertaining to the coordinates on the label 117 a where thecontent is to be printed. Further, on receiving the print job, the printoperation unit 512 may be configured to store the content to be printedin the memory device 504 as reference content.

At step 1004, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, theI/O device interface unit 508, and/or the like, for causing the printhead 110 to print the content on the media 116. For example, the printoperation unit 512 may cause the print head 110 to print content on thelabel 117 a. In an example embodiment, prior to printing the content onthe label 117 a, the print operation unit 512 may be configured to aligna printable portion on the label 117 a with the burn line 208.

In some examples, the printable portion of the label 117 a maycorrespond to a region on the label 117 a where the content isprintable. In some examples, the printable portion of the label 117 amay located at a distance from the leading edge 119 a and the trailingedge 119 b. For example, the printable portion of the label 117 a islocated at the distance of 0.5 mm from the leading edge of the label 117a. In some examples, such distance from the leading edge 119 a of thelabel 117 a may be inputted by the user of the printer apparatus 100. Inan example embodiment, the user of the printer apparatus 100 may inputthe value of the distance through the computing device. In analternative embodiment, the user may input the value of the distancefrom the leading edge 119 a of the label 117 a while creating the printjob to be executed on the printer apparatus 100.

To align the printable portion of the label 117 a with the burn line208, the I/O device interface unit 508 may cause the media hub 102 torotate, which in turn causes the media 116 to traverse along the mediapath 118 by a first distance. In an example embodiment, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 may determine the first distance based on the labellength and the sixth predetermined distance 230 between the burn line208 and the second media sensor scan line 226 as shown in FIG. 2A. Forexample, if the sixth predetermined distance is 50 mm and the labellength is 10 mm, the I/O device interface unit 508 may determine thatthe count of labels of the plurality of labels 117 between the secondmedia sensor scan line 226 and the burn line 208 is 5. When a leadingedge of a label (for example, a label X) of the plurality of labels 117aligns with the second media sensor scan line 226, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 determines that the 5^(th) label from the label X hasa leading edge aligned with the burn line 208. Thereafter, the I/Odevice interface unit 508 may cause the media 116 to move in the printdirection by the distance of, for example 0.5 mm based on user input, toalign the printable portion with the burn line.

In an example embodiment, the print operation unit 512 may cause theprint head 110 to heat one or more heating elements of the plurality ofheating elements based on the content to be printed and the coordinateson the label 117 a to print the content. For example, if the contentcorresponds to a margin to be printed on a periphery of the label 117 a,the print operation unit 512 may cause the print head 110 to heat theone or more heating elements at the corners of the burn line 208 inorder to print margins on the label 117 a.

Concurrently, the I/O device interface unit 508 may cause the media 116to traverse along the media path 118 in the print direction. As themedia 116 continues traversal along the media path 118 in the printdirection, after a time duration (since the printing operation wasinitiated), a portion of the label 117 a (on which the content is beingprinted) moves to the location corresponding to the verifier scan line218. In an example embodiment, such a scenario occurs when the labellength of the plurality of labels 117 is greater than the secondpredetermined distance 232 between the burn line 208 and the verifierscan line 218 as shown in FIG. 2A.

In certain implementations, where the label length of the plurality oflabels 117 is less than the second predetermined distance 232 betweenthe burn line 208 and the verifier scan line 218, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 causes the media 116 to traverse along the media path118 in the print direction after the printing of the content on thelabel 117 a is complete.

At step 1006, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, theimage processing unit 516, and/or the like, for causing the imagecapturing device 216 to capture the image of the printed content on theportion of label 117 a. After the image capturing device 216 capturesthe image of the printed content on the portion of the label 117 a, theimage processing unit 516 receives the captured image from the imagecapturing device 216.

At step 1008, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, theimage processing unit 516, and/or the like, for determining whether theprinted content is acceptable based on the captured image. To determinewhether the printed content is acceptable, in an example embodiment, theimage processing unit 516 may be configured to compare the capturedimage (i.e., the image of the portion of the label 117 a) with thereference content (stored in the memory device 504 in the step 1002). Asdescribed, the reference content corresponds to the content received inthe print job. Therefore, based on the comparison, the image processingunit 516 determines whether the content received from the print job iscorrectly reproduced on the portion of the label 117 a. For example, theimage processing unit 516 may compare the image of the portion of thelabel 117 a with corresponding reference content to determine whetherthe content received in the print job is correctly reproduced on thelabel 117 a. In some examples, image processing unit 516 may compare theimage of portion of the label 117 a and the corresponding referencecontent based on the type of the reference content. Some examples ofreference content types may include, but are not limited to, an indicia,a text content, an image, etc.

For example, if the type of reference content corresponds to an indicia(such as a barcode), the image processing unit 516 may be configured todecode the barcode from the captured image. Further, the imageprocessing unit 516 may be configured to decode the barcode from thereference content. Thereafter, the image processing unit 516 may beconfigured to determine whether the decoded information obtained fromthe captured image is same as the decoded information received from thereference content. If the decoded information obtained from both thereference content and the captured image are the same, the imageprocessing unit 516 determines that the printed content is acceptable.However, if the decoded information obtained from the reference contentand the captured image are not the same, the image processing unit 516may determine that the printed content is not acceptable.

In another example, if the type of the reference content is textcontent, the image processing unit 516 may configured to perform OpticalCharacter Recognition (OCR) on the captured image to obtain text.Thereafter, the image processing unit 516 may compare the text from thereference content with the text obtained through OCR to determinewhether the reference content is correctly reproduced on the label 117a. If the image processing unit 516 determines that the referencecontent is correctly reproduced on the label 117 a, the image processingunit 516 determines that the printed content is acceptable.

After determining that the printed content on the portion of the label117 a is acceptable, the image processing unit 516 may be configured todetermine whether the printed content is acceptable at the remainingportions of the label 117 a using the methods described in the step1008. In some examples, after the image processing unit 516 determinesthat printed content on all portions of the label 117 a is acceptable,the location of the label 117 a with respect to the verifier scan line218 is such that the trailing edge 119 b of the label 117 a aligns withthe verifier scan line 218. In other words, all portions of the label117 a has passed through the verifier scan line 218 for the imageprocessing unit 516 to determine whether the printed content isacceptable, resulting in the trailing edge 119 b of the label 117 aaligning with the verifier scan line 218.

In an example embodiment, if the image processing unit 516 determinesthat the printed content is acceptable, the image processing unit 516may be configured to perform step 1010. However, if the image processingunit 516 determines that the printed content is not acceptable (in otherwords, the verification of the printed content fails), the imageprocessing unit 516 may be configured to perform step 1014.

At step 1010, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, theI/O device interface unit 508, and/or the like, for causing the media116 to traverse in the print direction along the media path 118 by asecond distance to output the printed label 117 a from the printer mediaoutput 104. In an example embodiment, the I/O device interface unit 508may be configured to determine the second distance based on the labellength and the third predetermined distance 234 between the verifierscan line 218 and the printer media output 104.

For example, after the verification of the printed content on the label117 a is complete, the trailing edge of the label 117 a aligns with theverifier scan line 218, as described above. If the third predetermineddistance 234 is 10 mm and the label length is 15 mm, to output theprinted label out of the printer media output 104, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 may be configured to cause the media 116 to traverseby the second distance of 10 mm (which is the third predetermineddistance). When the label 117 a (having the printed content) isoutputted from the printer media output 104, a portion of the label 117b (adjacent to the label 117 a) also travels in the print direction bythe second distance. Therefore, the label 117 b, on which the content isto be printed next, is misaligned with respect to the print head 110.

At step 1012, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512,and/or the like, for determining whether a first predefined time periodhas elapsed. In some examples, the first predefined time period maycorrespond to a time duration within which the user of the printerapparatus 100 has to tear off the label on which the content has beenprinted (for example, label 117 a) by utilizing a tear bar (not shown)in the printer apparatus 100. If the print operation unit 512 determinesthat the first predefined time period has elapsed, the print operationunit 512 performs step 1014. However, if the print operation unit 512determines that the first predefined time period has not elapsed, theprint operation unit 512 may be configured to repeat step 1012.

Additionally or alternatively, the print operation unit 512 maydetermine whether the label on which the content has been printed hasbeen torn off through sensor(s). In an example embodiment, the printoperation unit 512 may be configured to determine whether the label hasbeen torn off based on reception of the media presence signal (generatedby the media output sensor 121). When the print operation unit 512 stopsreceiving the media presence signal, the print operation unit 512determines that the label has been torn off. Accordingly, the printoperation unit 512 may be configured to perform the step 1014. However,of the print operation unit 512 determines that it is still receivingthe media presence signal, the print operation unit 512 determines thatthe printed label has not been torn off. Accordingly, the printoperation unit 512 may repeat the step 1012.

At step 1014, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, I/Odevice interface unit 508, and/or the like, for causing the media 116 toretract along the media path 118 in the retract direction. In an exampleembodiment, the print operation unit 512 may instruct the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 to cause the media 116 to retract along the mediapath 118. For example, on receiving the instruction, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 may be configured to actuate the first electricaldrive to cause the media 116 to retract.

At step 1016, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, I/Odevice interface unit 508, the signal processing unit 514, and/or thelike, for analyzing the first signal received from the first mediasensor 202 while media 116 retracts along the media path 118 to detectthe sudden increase or decrease in the measurement of thetransmissivity/reflectivity of the media 116. As described, the firstsignal is indicative of the measurement of thetransmissivity/reflectivity of various sections of the media 116. As thelabel 117 b passing over the first media sensor 202 during theretraction of the media 116 along the media path 118, the first signalgenerated by the first media sensor 202 is indicative of themeasurements of the transmissivity/reflectivity of the various sectionsof the label 117 b. Further, as described, when either the leading edge119 b or the trailing edge 119 c of the label 117 b passes over thefirst media sensor 202, the first media sensor 202 may record a suddenincrease or decrease in the transmissivity/reflectivity of the media116, as indicated in the one or more measurements of the one or morecharacteristics of the first signal (generated by the first media sensor202). Therefore, the signal processing unit 514 may be configured toanalyze the first signal to detect such sudden increase or decrease inthe measurement of the transmissivity/reflectivity of the media 116.Upon detection of the sudden increase or decrease in the measurement ofthe transmissivity/reflectivity of the media 116, the signal processingunit 514 may determine that the either the leading edge or the trailingedge of the label 117 b has traversed over the first media sensor 202during traversal of the media 116 in the retract direction.

At step 1018, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, I/Odevice interface unit 508, signal processing unit 514 and/or the like,for determining whether the label length of the plurality of labels 117(as determined in, for example, step 906 of FIG. 9) is greater than orequal to the fifth predetermined distance 238 between the first mediasensor scan line 224 and the printer media output 104. If the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 determines that the length of the plurality of labels117 is greater than or equal to the fifth predetermined distance 238,the signal processing unit 514 may be configured to perform step 1020.However, if the I/O device interface unit 508 determine that the lengthof the plurality of labels 117 is less than the fifth predetermineddistance 238, the signal processing unit 514 may be configured toperform step 1024.

In some embodiments, the determination at the step 1018 enables thesignal processing unit 514 to determine whether the suddenincrease/decrease in the measurement of the transmissivity/reflectivityof the media 116 is due to the leading edge 119 b or the trailing edge119 c of the label 117 b traversing over the first media sensor 202. Forexample, if the length of the label 117 b is less than fifthpredetermined distance 238, the complete label 117 b would havetraversed past the first media sensor scan line 224 during the executionof the step 1010. Accordingly, the sudden increase/decrease in themeasurement of the transmissivity/reflectivity of the media 116 theduring retraction of the media 116 may be due to the trailing edge ofthe label 117 b traversing over the first media sensor 202. If thelength of the label 117 b is greater than the fifth predetermineddistance 238, only a portion of the label 117 b would have traversedpast the first media during the execution of the step 1010. Accordingly,the sudden increase/decrease in the measurement of thetransmissivity/reflectivity of the media 116 may be due to the leadingedge of the label 117 b traversing past the first media sensor 202.

At step 1020, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, I/Odevice interface unit 508, signal processing unit 514 and/or the like,for determining that the leading edge 119 b of the label (e.g., 117 b)has been detected based on the analysis of the first signal at step 1016while the media retracts along the media path at step 1014. Accordingly,at step 1022, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, I/Odevice interface unit 508, and/or the like, for continuing retractingthe media 116 along media path 118 for a third distance so that theleading edge 119 b of the label 117 b is aligned with the burn line. Insome embodiments, the third distance corresponds to the fourthpredetermined distance 228 as shown in FIG. 2A.

In some embodiments, the third distance may correspond to a distancedetermined based on the fourth predetermined distance 228 minus thedistance of the printable portion from the leading edge. In such anembodiment, the I/O device interface unit 508 may be configured todetermine the third distance. Further, in such an embodiment, the burnline 208 aligns with the printable portion on the label 117 b.

At step 1024, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, theI/O device interface unit 508, the signal processing unit 514 and/or thelike, for determining that the trailing edge 119 c of the label 117 bhas been detected based on the analysis of the first signal at step 1016while the media retracts along the media path at step 1014. Accordingly,at step 1026, the printer apparatus 100 includes means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the print operation unit 512, I/Odevice interface unit 508, and/or the like, for continuing retractingthe media 116 along media path 118 for a fourth distance. In exampleembodiment, the fourth distance corresponds to a sum of the fourthpredetermined distance 228 and the length of the plurality of labels117. In such an embodiment, when the I/O device interface unit 508causes the media to retract by the fourth distance, the leading edge ofthe label 117 b is aligns with the burn line after retraction.

In some embodiments, the fourth distance may correspond to a distancedetermined by subtracting the distance of the printable portion from theleading edge from the sum of the fourth predetermined distance 228 andthe length of the plurality of labels 117. In such an embodiment, theI/O device interface unit 508 may be configured to determine the fourthpredetermined distance. Further, in such an embodiment, the burn line208 aligns with the printable portion on the label 117 b afterretraction.

As described, the first signal from the first media sensor 202 (which ispositioned closer to the print head 110 in comparison to the secondmedia sensor 204) is used to realign the label 117 b with the burn line208 during retraction of the media 116 along the media path 118.Therefore, the alignment of the label 117 b with the print head 110 canbe more accurate than a scenario where only the second signal from thesecond media sensor 204 is utilized to align the label 117 b with theprint head 110. If the calculation of realignment is only based on thesecond signal from the second media sensor 204, various factors (forexample, but not limited to, feed error due varying tension of the media116 along the media path 118) may have led to inaccurate alignment ofthe label 117 b with the print head 110.

If, at step 1008, the image processing unit 516 determines that theprinted content is not acceptable, the image processing unit 516 may beconfigured to perform step 1028. At step 1028, the I/O device interfaceunit 508 may cause the media 116 to retract along the media path 118 inthe retract direction. At step 1030, the signal processing unit 514 maybe configured to analyze the first signal to detect the sudden increaseor sudden decrease in the measurement of the transmissivity/reflectivityof the media 116. The sudden increase or the sudden decrease in themeasurement of the transmissivity/reflectivity of the media 116 maydepict the traversal of the either the leading edge 119 b or thetrailing edge 119 c over the first media sensor 202. To determine whichedge has traversed over the first media sensor 202, at step 1032, theI/O device interface unit 508 determines whether the length of theplurality of labels 117 is greater than or equal to a predetermineddistance between the verifier scan line 218 and the first media sensorscan line 224. If the I/O device interface unit 508 determines that thelength of the plurality of labels 117 is greater than or equal to thepredetermined distance between the verifier scan line 218 and the firstmedia sensor scan line 224, the I/O device interface unit 508 performsthe step 1020. At step 1020, the I/O device interface unit 508determines that the leading edge 119 b of the label 117 b has traversedover the first media sensor 202. Accordingly, the I/O device interfaceunit 508 may be configured to cause the media 116 to retract by thethird distance at block 1022.

If at step 1032, the I/O device interface unit 508 determines thatlength of the plurality of labels 117 is less than the predetermineddistance between the verifier scan line 218 and the first media sensorscan line 224, the I/O device interface unit 508 may determine that thetrailing edge 119 c has traversed over the first media sensor 202.Accordingly, the I/O device interface unit 508 may cause the media 116to retract by the fourth distance at block 1026.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example method 1100 of operating the printerapparatus 100 in the print mode, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

The example method 1100 illustrates a series of schematics of theprinter apparatus 100 depicting the various states of the printerapparatus 100 during the operation of the printer apparatus 100 in theprint mode. For example, the schematic 1102 of the printer apparatus 100depicts that label 117 a is under the print head 110 for the print head110 to print content on the label 117 a. After the print head 110 printscontent on the label 117 a, the I/O device interface unit 508 causes themedia 116 to move in the print direction such that the label 117 a isunder with the image capturing device 216 in the image verifier housing112, as is depicted in the schematic 1104. As described, the imagecapturing device 216 may be configured to capture an image of theprinted content. Thereafter, the image processing unit 516 may beconfigured to verify the printed content to determine whether theprinted content is acceptable.

After the image processing unit 516 determines that the printed contentis acceptable, the I/O device interface unit 508 may cause the media 116to traverse along the media path 118 in the print direction to outputthe label 117 a from the printer media output 104, as is illustrated inschematic 1106. As illustrated, the label 117 b (on which the content isto be printed next) gets misaligned during the outputting of the label117 a from the printer media output 104.

Accordingly, the I/O device interface unit 508 causes the media 116 tomove in the retract direction along the media path 118. During theretraction of the media 116 along the media path 118, the signalprocessing unit 514 may be configured to analyze the first signalgenerated by the first media sensor 202 to detect a sudden increase inthe measurement of the transmissivity of the media 116. As described,the sudden increase in the measurement of the transmissivity mayindicate that the leading edge (depicted by 1110) has been detected bythe first media sensor 202. The schematic 1108 depicts such state of theprinter apparatus 100 where the leading edge 1110 of the label 117 b isaligned with the first media sensor scan line 224.

Thereafter, the I/O device interface unit 508 causes the media 116 totraverse by the third distance. After traversal of the media 116 by thethird distance in the retract direction, the leading edge 1110 of thelabel 117 b is aligned with the burn line 208, as illustrated inschematic 1112.

As described, when a new media roll is installed in the printerapparatus 100 (for example, at step 618 of FIG. 6), the processor 502causes the printer apparatus 100 to operate in the new media mode. Theoperation of the printer apparatus 100 in the new media mode is hereindescribed in conjunction with FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart 1200 for operating the printer apparatus100 in the new media mode, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

At step 1202, the printer apparatus 100 may include means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, and/or the like, for causing a new media from the new media roll(hereinafter referred to as new media) to traverse along the media path118 in the retract direction. In an example embodiment, the new mediaincludes a plurality of new labels. In some embodiments, when the newmedia roll is installed in the printer apparatus 100, certain portion ofthe new media is retrieved from the new media roll and is placed alongthe media path 118 manually so that the new media extends between thenew media roll and the printer media output 104. After such placement ofthe portion of the new media along the media path 118, the first newlabel (on which the content is to be printed) is not aligned with theprint head 110. Therefore, on installation of the new media roll, theI/O device interface unit 508 causes the new media to traverse in theretract direction to align the first new label with the print head 110.

As described, the I/O device interface unit 508 may actuate the firstelectrical drive, causing the new media to move along the media path 118in the retract direction. In some examples, the I/O device interfaceunit 508 may cause the new media to retract along the media path 118with the determined linear speed. As described, to cause the new mediato traverse along the media path 118 with the determined linear speed,the I/O device interface unit 508 actuate the first electrical drive atthe predetermined angular speed.

At step 1204, the printer apparatus 100 may include means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the signal processing unit 514, and/or the like, for causing thefirst media sensor 202 to generate the first signal during the traversalof the new media along the media path 118 in the retract direction.

At step 1206, the printer apparatus 100 may include means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the signal processing unit 514, and/or the like, for analyzing thefirst signal to detect a trailing edge of the new label based on thesudden increase/decrease in the measurement of thetransmissivity/reflectivity of the new media. As described, the suddenincrease/decrease in the measurement of the transmissivity/reflectivityof the new media may indicate traversal of the leading edge or thetrailing edge of a new label of plurality of new labels over the firstmedia sensor 202. Because a portion of the new media has been placedalong the media path 118, the signal processing unit 514 may determinethe first instance of the sudden increase/decrease in the measurement ofthe transmissivity/reflectivity as the trailing edge. In an exampleembodiment, the signal processing unit 514 may be configured to utilizemethodologies described in the step 1016 of FIG. 10. In response to thedetection of the trailing edge of the new label, the printer apparatus100 may include means, such as the control system 206, the processor502, the I/O device interface unit 508 and/or the like, for continuingretraction of the new media along the media path 118 in the retractdirection.

At step 1208, the printer apparatus 100 may include means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the media alignment unit 518, and/or the like, for determining afirst distance traversed by the new media along the media path 118 inthe retract direction after the detection of the trailing edge of thenew label. As described, the I/O device interface unit 508 causes thenew media to traverse along the media path 118 with the determinedlinear speed. Therefore, the media alignment unit 518 may be configuredto determine the first distance traversed by the new media along themedia path 118 in the retract direction based on the determined linearspeed and a time duration elapsed since the detection of the trailingedge of the new label. In an example embodiment, the I/O deviceinterface unit 508 may utilize mathematical relations between thedistance, speed, and time to determine the first distance traversed bythe new media along the media path 118 in the retract direction.

At step 1210, the printer apparatus 100 may include means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the media alignment unit 518, and/or the like, for determiningwhether the first distance traversed by the new media satisfies theoriginal label length (as determined in, for example, step 906 of FIG.9). For example, if the media alignment unit 518 determines that thefirst distance traversed by the new media along the media path 118 inthe retract direction is equal to the original label length, the mediaalignment unit 518 determines that the first distance traversed by thenew media satisfies the label length. Accordingly, the media alignmentunit 518 may be configured to perform step 1216. However, if the mediaalignment unit 518 determines that the first distance traversed by thenew media along the media path 118 is not equal to the label length, themedia alignment unit 518 may be configured to perform step 1212.

At step 1212, the printer apparatus 100 may include means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the media alignment unit 518, the signal processing unit 514,and/or the like, for analyzing the first signal to determine whether theleading edge of the new label has traversed over the first media sensor202. As described, to determine whether the leading edge of the newlabel has traversed over the first media sensor 202, the signalprocessing unit 514 may be configured to detect the suddenincrease/decrease in the measurement of the transmissivity/reflectivityof the new media (e.g., based on the one or more characteristics of thefirst signal). If the first signal indicates the suddenincrease/decrease in the measurement of the transmissivity/reflectivityof the new media, the media alignment unit 518 may determine that theleading edge of the new label has traversed over the first media sensor202. Accordingly, the media alignment unit 518 may be configured toperform step 1214. However, if the media alignment unit 518 determinesthat the leading edge of the new label has not traversed over the firstmedia sensor 202, the media alignment unit 518 may be configured toperform step 1208.

At step 1214, the printer apparatus 100 may include means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the media alignment unit 518, and/or the like, for updating thelabel length as the first distance. Because the leading edge of the newlabel traverses over the first media sensor 202 prior to the new mediatraversing the distance equal to the original label length (i.e., thelength of the label determined for plurality of labels 117 in the media116), a label length of the plurality of new labels in the new media isless than the original label length of the original plurality of labels117. Accordingly, the media alignment unit 518 may be configured todetermine the new label length as the first distance.

In other words, if a leading edge of the new label is detected prior toa distance traversed by the new media is equal to the label length, theprinter apparatus 100 may continue causing the new media to retractalong the media path in the retract direction until the leading edge isdetected. The printer apparatus 100 may then determine a first distancethat the new media traversed after the detection of the trailing edgeand before the detection of the leading edge based on the first signal,and set the first distance as the label length for the new labels.

If, at step 1210, the media alignment unit 518 determines that the firstdistance traversed by the media 116 is equal to the label length, theprinter apparatus 100 may include means, such as the control system 206,the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit 508, the mediaalignment unit 518, and/or the like, for continuing retraction of thenew media along the media path 118 at step 1216.

At step 1218, the printer apparatus 100 may include means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the media alignment unit 518, the signal processing unit 514,and/or the like, for analyzing the first signal to determine whether theleading edge of the new label has traversed over the first media sensor202. In some examples, the signal processing unit 514 may be configuredto utilize similar methodologies as described in the step 1212 todetermine whether the leading edge of the new label has traversed overthe first media sensor 202. If the signal processing unit 514 determinesthat the leading edge of the new label has not traversed over the firstmedia sensor 202, the media alignment unit 518 may be configured toperform step 1216. However, if the signal processing unit 514 determinesthat the leading edge of the new label has traversed over the firstmedia sensor 202, the media alignment unit 518 may be configured toperform step 1220.

At step 1220, the printer apparatus 100 may include means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the media alignment unit 518, and/or the like, for determining asecond distance traversed by the new media along the media path 118 (inthe retract direction) after the determination of the first distancetraversed by the new media being equal to the original label length. Inan example embodiment, the media alignment unit 518 may be configuredutilize similar methodologies as is described in the step 1208 todetermine the second distance.

At step 1222, the printer apparatus 100 may include means, such as thecontrol system 206, the processor 502, the I/O device interface unit508, the media alignment unit 518, and/or the like, for determining thenew label length as a sum of the original label length and the seconddistance.

In other words, if the new media traverses a first distance (equal tothe old label length) prior to the printer apparatus 100 detecting aleading edge of the new label based on the first signal, the printerapparatus 100 may retract the new media until the leading edge of thenew label is detected. The printer apparatus 100 may then determine asecond distance that the new media traversed after the new media hastraversed by the old label length and before the leading edge of the newlabel is detected, and calculate the new label length of the new labelby adding the old label length and the second distance.

In some example embodiments, certain ones of the operations herein maybe modified or further amplified as described below. Moreover, in someembodiments additional optional operations may also be included. Itshould be appreciated that each of the modifications, optional additionsor amplifications described herein may be included with the operationsherein either alone or in combination with any others among the featuresdescribed herein.

The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams areprovided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to requireor imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed inthe order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art,the order of steps in some of the foregoing embodiments may be performedin any order. Words such as “thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are notintended to limit the order of the steps; these words are simply used toguide the reader through the description of the methods. Further, anyreference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using thearticles “a,” “an,” or “the” is not to be construed as limiting theelement to the singular.

The hardware used to implement the various illustrative logics, logicalblocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspectsdisclosed herein may include a general purpose processor, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a special-purpose processor such as anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmablegate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Ageneral-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but, in thealternative, the processor may be any processor, controller, or statemachine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination ofcomputing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, aplurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunctionwith a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Alternatively or inaddition, some steps or methods may be performed by circuitry that isspecific to a given function.

In one or more example embodiments, the functions described herein maybe implemented by special-purpose hardware or a combination of hardwareprogrammed by firmware or other software. In implementations relying onfirmware or other software, the functions may be performed as a resultof execution of one or more instructions stored on one or morenon-transitory computer-readable media and/or one or more non-transitoryprocessor-readable media. These instructions may be embodied by one ormore processor-executable software modules that reside on the one ormore non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storagemedia. Non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storagemedia may in this regard comprise any storage media that may be accessedby a computer or a processor. By way of example but not limitation, suchnon-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable media may includeRAM, ROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory, disk storage, magnetic storage devices,or the like. Disk storage, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD),laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, andBlu-ray Disc™, or other storage devices that store data magnetically oroptically with lasers. Combinations of the above types of media are alsoincluded within the scope of the terms non-transitory computer-readableand processor-readable media. Additionally, any combination ofinstructions stored on the one or more non-transitory processor-readableor computer-readable media may be referred to herein as a computerprogram product.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although the figuresonly show certain components of the apparatus and systems describedherein, it is understood that various other components may be used inconjunction with the system. Therefore, it is to be understood that theinventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosedand that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the steps in themethod described above may not necessarily occur in the order depictedin the accompanying diagrams, and in some cases one or more of the stepsdepicted may occur substantially simultaneously, or additional steps maybe involved. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are usedin a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printer apparatus comprising: a printer housinghaving at least a printer media output; a media hub configured toreceive a media roll and supply a media from the media roll along amedia path in a print direction to the printer media output, wherein themedia includes a plurality of labels associated with a label length; aprint head disposed adjacent to the media path and is downstream of themedia hub in the print direction, wherein the print head is configuredto print content on the plurality of labels; an image verifier disposedadjacent to the media path and is downstream of the print head in theprint direction; a first media sensor disposed between the print headand the image verifier, wherein the first media sensor is positioned ata predetermined distance from the image verifier, wherein the firstmedia sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicative of aposition of the plurality of labels on the media path; and a processorcommunicatively coupled to the media hub, the first media sensor and theprint head, wherein the processor is configured to: cause the media hubto retract the media in a retract direction along the media path,wherein the retract direction is opposite to the print direction;monitor the first signal received from the first media sensor during theretraction of the media along the media path, to detect an edge of alabel of the plurality of labels; and in response to detecting the edgeof the label during the retraction of the media along the media path:cause the media to retract by at least a first distance when the labellength is greater than the predetermined distance between the imageverifier and the first media sensor, and cause the media to retract byat least a second distance when the label length is less than thepredetermined distance between the image verifier and the first mediasensor, wherein the first distance is different from the seconddistance.
 2. The printer apparatus of claim 1, further comprising asecond media sensor disposed upstream of the print head along the mediapath with respect to the print direction, wherein the second mediasensor is configured to generate a second signal indicative of theposition of the plurality of labels on the media path.
 3. The printerapparatus of claim 1, wherein the image verifier includes an imagecapturing device, wherein the image capturing device and the first mediasensor are disposed in a housing of the image verifier, wherein theimage capturing device is configured to capture an image of the printedcontent.
 4. The printer apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor iscommunicatively coupled to the image capturing device, wherein theprocessor is further configured to verify the printed content based onthe captured image.
 5. The printer apparatus of claim 4, wherein in aninstance in which the verification of the printed content fails, theprocessor is configured to cause the media to retract along the mediapath.
 6. The printer apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first mediasensor is positioned in the housing of the image verifier such that thefirst media sensor is positioned upstream of the image capturing devicealong the media path with respect to the print direction, wherein athird distance between the print head and the first media sensor alongthe media path is shorter than a fourth distance between a second mediasensor and the print head along the media path.
 7. The printer apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a tear bar positioned proximal to theprinter media output and is positioned downstream of the first mediasensor, wherein the tear bar is configured to facilitate tearing of theplurality of labels outputted from the printer media output.
 8. Theprinter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured tocause the media to retract along the media path in response to elapsingof a predefined time period.
 9. The printer apparatus of claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to: determine whether themedia hub has received a new media roll based on one or more parametersassociated with the new media roll, wherein the new media roll includesnew media that further includes a plurality of new labels; based ondetermining that the media hub receives the new media roll, cause thenew media in the new media roll to retract along the media path in theretract direction until a trailing edge of a new label is detected basedon the first signal; based on detection of the trailing edge of the newlabel, cause the new media to retract along the media path in theretract direction until a distance traversed by the new media is equalto the label length prior to a leading edge of the new label is detectedbased on the first signal; upon determining that the distance traversedby the new media is equal to the label length, retract the new mediauntil the leading edge of the new label is detected by the processorbased on the first signal; determine a traversed distance that the newmedia traversed after the new media has traversed by the label lengthand before the leading edge of the new label is detected by theprocessor based on the first signal; and modify the label length by thetraversed distance.
 10. The printer apparatus of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: determine whether the media hub hasreceived a new media roll based on one or more parameters associatedwith the new media roll, wherein the new media roll includes new mediathat further includes a plurality of new labels; based on determiningthat the media hub receives the new media roll, cause the new media inthe new media roll to retract along the media path in the retractdirection until a trailing edge of a new label is detected based on thefirst signal; based on detection of the trailing edge of the new label,cause the new media to retract along the media path in the retractdirection until a leading edge of the new label is detected based on thefirst signal, prior to a distance traversed by the new media is equal tothe label length; determining a traversed distance that the new mediatraversed after the detection of the trailing edge and before thedetection of the leading edge based on the first signal; and modify thelabel length as the traversed distance.
 11. A method for operating aprinter apparatus comprising a print head, the method comprising:causing, by a processor, a media hub of the printer apparatus to retracta media in a retract direction along a media path, wherein the mediacomprises a plurality of labels associated with a label length; causing,by the processor, a first media sensor to generate a first signalindicative of a position of the plurality of labels on the media alongthe media path, wherein the first media sensor is disposed between theprint head and a printer media output in a print direction opposite tothe retract direction; monitoring, by the processor, the first signalreceived from the first media sensor, during the retraction of the mediaalong the media path, to detect an edge of a label of the plurality oflabels; and in response detecting the edge of the label during theretraction of the media along the media path, determining whether thelabel length is greater than a predetermined distance between an imageverifier and the first media sensor.
 12. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising determining, by the processor, the label length of theplurality of labels based on one or more parameters associated with themedia.
 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising causing, by theprocessor, the print head to print content on the label.
 14. The methodof claim 13 further comprising: causing, by the processor, an imagecapturing device in the image verifier to capture an image of theprinted content on the label; and verifying, by the processor, theprinted content based on the captured image.
 15. The method of claim 14further comprising: determining, by the processor, whether theverification of the printed content fails; and causing, by theprocessor, the media hub to retract the media along the media path whenthe verification fails.
 16. The method of claim 11 further comprisingcausing, by the processor, the media to retract along the media path inresponse to elapsing of a predefined time period.
 17. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising: determining whether the media hub hasreceived a new media roll based on one or more parameters associatedwith the new media roll, wherein the new media roll includes new mediathat further includes a plurality of new labels; based on determiningthat the media hub receives the new media roll, causing the new media inthe new media roll to retract along the media path in the retractdirection until a trailing edge of a new label is detected based on thefirst signal; based on detection of the trailing edge of the new label,causing the new media to retract along the media path in the retractdirection until a distance traversed by the new media is equal to thelabel length prior to a leading edge of the new label is detected basedon the first signal; upon determining that the distance traversed by thenew media is equal to the label length, causing the new media to retractuntil the leading edge of the new label is detected by the processorbased on the first signal; determining a traversed distance that the newmedia traversed after the new media has traversed by the label lengthand before the leading edge of the new label is detected; and modifyingthe label length by the traversed distance.
 18. The method of claim 11,further comprising: determining whether the media hub has received a newmedia roll based on one or more parameters associated with the new mediaroll, wherein the new media roll includes new media that furtherincludes a plurality of new labels; based on determining that the mediahub receives the new media roll, causing the new media in the new mediaroll to retract along the media path in the retract direction until atrailing edge of a new label is detected based on the first signal;based on detection of the trailing edge of the new label, causing thenew media to retract along the media path in the retract direction untila leading edge of the new label is detected based on the first signalprior to a distance traversed by the new media is equal to the labellength; determining a traversed distance that the new media traversedafter the detection of the trailing edge and before the detection of theleading edge based on the first signal; and modifying the label lengthas the traversed distance.
 19. The method of claim 11 further comprisingcausing, by the processor, the media hub to retract the media by atleast a first distance in response to determining that the label lengthis greater than the predetermined distance between the image verifierand the first media sensor.
 20. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising causing, by the processor, the media to retract by at least asecond distance in response to determining that the label length is lessthan the predetermined distance between the image verifier and the firstmedia sensor.